Reviving the past: Bazar Abbas restoration and Conservation Training

This training program is designed to serve as the crucial first step in the conservation and restoration efforts for Bazar Abbas, aiming to impart practical skills to the local community in Port Said. Despite the deteriorating condition of the building, the ground floor remains in active use. To minimize disruption to the daily activities of the shopkeepers, our training program primarily focused on the second level of the building’s entrance façade, with a special emphasis on the restoration of the timber verandas. Notably, the veranda, locally known as “taracina,” stands as one of the most distinctive architectural features in Port Said. 

Our training equipped participants with a foundational understanding of conservation principles, 

processes, technical terminology, and conservation ethics. Furthermore, it offered hands-on 

experience and practical knowledge, covering the restoration of materials such as plaster, wood, and steel, while emphasizing the importance of thorough documentation throughout the entire conservation process. 

The training program consisted of four groups, each composed of five to six trainees accompanied by a restorer/artisan and supervised by an expert. Three of these groups focused on mastering the restoration techniques for a specific material, including plaster, wood, and steel. The fourth group was comprised of six young architects who trained to assess and document the various phases of restoration for the aforementioned materials. While they worked as a team, each two persons assigned to focus on one material. 

Publications

https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-btu/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/7289/file/Transform_14_2026.pdf

Links

https://cultural-protection-fund.britishcouncil.org/projects/abbas-bazaar

https://www.facebook.com/BazarAbbas.RecoveryLab/

https://www.instagram.com/abbas_bazar_recovery_lab/