KSA Crown Prince orders launch of heritage buildings restoration programme in Riyadh
15 heritage palaces and five royal palaces to be covered in Phase 1 of the project
HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence has ordered the restoration of urban heritage buildings of architectural and historical significance in the capital Riyadh, it has been announced.
According to a report by SPA, a total of 15 heritage palaces and five royal palaces will be covered in the first phase of the project. It will focus on preparing studies and designs and managing sites and temporary strengthening of buildings, stated the report. The second phase will include the implementation project for the comprehensive restoration of buildings within 24 months, starting from January 2021, it added.
The project is managed by the Ministry of Culture, represented by the Heritage Commission, in partnership with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and Riyadh Municipality.
Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Heritage Commission, said the restoration operations will take into account international standards in terms of restoration and preservation of urban heritage buildings, the report said.
The project aims to preserve urban heritage buildings of architectural and historical significance, highlight the local identity and transform these buildings into an economic, social, cultural and tourism resource. It also aims to increase the efficiency of their uses with adjacent areas, it concluded.