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SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region - Most historic residences in Sulaimani are being erased, other by a lack of care or demolition to make way for services such as car repair shops or high-rise buildings.
Salar Khwaram, a Sulaimani resident, has dedicated over 20 years to volunteering efforts aimed at safeguarding the city's historic cultural landmarks and residences. He claims that those who are in charge of these houses are intentionally ruining them to turn them into garages and multi-story buildings.
"Day by day, month by month, and year by year, these houses collapse due to weather conditions such as rain and snow, and also intentionally. Are they waiting to be turned into garages and multi-story buildings?" Khwaram told Rudaw's Peshawa Bakhtyar on Friday.
For around five years, View Group, an engineering consultancy in training and development, has collaborated with the University of Sulaimani to carefully document the old neighborhoods and houses.
“It is safe to say that a majority of the houses either lie in ruins or face imminent destruction due to various factors,” Adil Mawlawi, director of View Group, said. He added that financial constraints are hindering government efforts to improve the situation, but that the lack of cultural awareness is also a factor.
The Archaeological Directorate of Sulaimani intends to renovate these houses to their original design and style, to utilize them within the tourism sector.
Nonetheless, the financial crisis has caused a delay in the process, and modifications to the houses are currently delayed. However, it's worth noting that in the past, demolished houses have been repurposed into garages according to residents.
Salar Khwaram, a Sulaimani resident, has dedicated over 20 years to volunteering efforts aimed at safeguarding the city's historic cultural landmarks and residences. He claims that those who are in charge of these houses are intentionally ruining them to turn them into garages and multi-story buildings.
"Day by day, month by month, and year by year, these houses collapse due to weather conditions such as rain and snow, and also intentionally. Are they waiting to be turned into garages and multi-story buildings?" Khwaram told Rudaw's Peshawa Bakhtyar on Friday.
For around five years, View Group, an engineering consultancy in training and development, has collaborated with the University of Sulaimani to carefully document the old neighborhoods and houses.
“It is safe to say that a majority of the houses either lie in ruins or face imminent destruction due to various factors,” Adil Mawlawi, director of View Group, said. He added that financial constraints are hindering government efforts to improve the situation, but that the lack of cultural awareness is also a factor.
The Archaeological Directorate of Sulaimani intends to renovate these houses to their original design and style, to utilize them within the tourism sector.
Nonetheless, the financial crisis has caused a delay in the process, and modifications to the houses are currently delayed. However, it's worth noting that in the past, demolished houses have been repurposed into garages according to residents.
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