The Authority for Culture & Antiquities Conservation Department (Manama, Bahrain) has received the Aga Khan Award 2019 for the revitalisation of the city of Muharraq (Bahrain). The Belgian offices OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen and Bureau Bas Smets were major contributors to the project.
Aimed at highlighting the city’s rich history and valuable heritage, the scheme was initially launched as a series of restoration and reuse projects. It subsequently evolved into a comprehensive programme aimed at rebalancing the demographic composition of the city by providing public spaces, creating community and cultural sites and improving the overall environment.
OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen and Bureau Bas Smets were jointly in charge of the Pearl Route, one of the most important projects for the transformation of Muharraq. The Belgian offices created sixteen squares in the dense historic city, designed as outdoor rooms on the foundations of former buildings. They developed a route that on the one hand allows visitors to discover the historic city, while at the same time creating new public spaces for the residents.
Find out more about the revitalisation of Muharraq More projects by Bureau Bas Smets and OFFICE
