To the observer's first glance at the buildings and shops of the Old City of Sana'a, a stark contrast becomes evident between its ancient walls, constructed from burnt brick and white gypsum, and the new iron doors that are replacing the traditional wooden ones. Many visitors to this historic and archaeological city view this change as visual pollution, arguing that its architectural style can only harmonize with wooden doors that add a soulful touch and create a familiar harmony for visitors.
Bilal Qaed, a regular visitor and admirer of the city, believes that the creaking of iron doors in Old Sana'a as they open and close is a repellent factor for him. He insists that the city should retain its archaeological character and that it is futile to impose modern architectural styles, whether through iron doors or concrete construction. Qaed laments the absence of protective measures and responsible authorities ensuring the preservation of Old Sana'a's heritage and preventing any tampering with its historical styles.
The Old Sana'a, known as the walled city, is an ancient city whose remnants persist to this day. Historically, it had seven gates, but only one remains—"Bab al-Yemen." According to historical sources, Sana'a has been inhabited since the fifth century BCE. Its civilization is distinguished by a unique architectural style characterized by decorations and inscriptions that adorn its buildings, such as mosques, houses, and markets.
UNESCO Warnings
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) listed Old Sana'a in 1984 as a World Heritage Site due to its significant human heritage. Following the outbreak of war in the country in 2015, UNESCO issued warnings about the repercussions affecting Old Sana'a, including airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition, given its status as a rare and important archaeological site. The city, situated in a mountain valley, contains approximately 100 mosques, 14 public baths, and around 6,000 houses, all constructed before the eleventh century.
In this regard, "Khuyut" interviewed owners of shops and houses in the Old City of Sana'a to understand the reasons behind replacing wooden doors with iron ones, and their motivations for doing so were varied. Ameen Sabna, the owner of the "Janabi" shop in the "Al-Usoub" market, explains the reason for changing the door of his shop due to the small space of the shop. He preferred to buy the iron door to make it easier for him to handle it. Sabna complains about the lack of interest from the concerned authorities towards the Old City of Sana'a and its landmarks, stating, "The door deteriorated and became worn out, and I couldn't afford to buy another door due to its high price, even though I realize that the wooden door is part of the historical and archaeological style that attracts visitors."
As for Mohammed Al-Akwa, an owner of a thread shop in the Silk and Thread Market, he confirms that the reason for replacing his shop’s old wooden door with an iron one was the deterioration of the wooden door, as he couldn't afford to buy another wooden door, forcing him to opt for iron. Al-Akwa, who is also an activist for the preservation of historic cities, emphasizes that his wish was to maintain the city's historical style. He adds, questioning, "The Capital Secretariat provides no support for Old Sana'a, and the city's condition continues to deteriorate over time."
“Iron doors cannot aesthetically or functionally replace wooden ones. The latter should have been prioritized for preservation and maintenance, as they are an integral part of Old Sana'a's architectural identity. The invasion of iron and concrete into the city's landmarks is considered a blatant assault on the spirit and essence of its history.”
Similarly, Abdulwahab Saneen, a resident of Old Sana'a, expressed his regret over the city's transformation, saying, "The city has lost its authenticity altogether, and it saddens me to see the falseness inflicted upon it." He noted that Old Sana'a has been negatively affected by the war, as the attention it once received from within has diminished and the external support from interested organizations, such as UNESCO, which listed it as a World Heritage Site in 1984, has ceased. He emphasizes that any changes to its historical style should not occur without coordination with UNESCO."
Likewise, Nu'man Al-Rubba, a homeowner near the "Al-Nazara" market, explains the reasons why people in the Old City of Sana'a are opting to replace their wooden doors with iron ones. He tells "Khuyut," "Recently, with the difficult living conditions people are facing, many homes and shops in Sana'a have been targeted by thieves. The deteriorating wooden doors allowed thieves to gain access inside, prompting people to switch to iron doors as they provide security and serve as a deterrent against burglars accessing shops and homes."
He also believes that the advantages of the iron doors cannot aesthetically or functionally replace or compensate for the wooden ones, as the latter, he says, should have been prioritized for preservation and maintenance, as they are an integral part of the Old City of Sana'a's architectural identity. Consequently, the invasion of iron and some cement additions to the city's landmarks is considered a blatant assault on the spirit and essence of its history, and therefore, under no circumstances should it be subjected to modern tools.
Mutual Accusations
For his part, Engineer Rashad Al-Maqtari, Undersecretary of the General Authority for the Preservation of Historic Cities for Technical Affairs, states that the replacement of wooden doors with iron ones in Old Sana'a is a violation and contradicts the historical and archaeological context of the city. He adds that the Authority conducts annual awareness campaigns about preserving Sana’a’s archaeological character. However, these efforts are ineffective as there are no initiatives to help residents restore wooden doors or purchase new ones if the old ones deteriorate, bearing in mind that "timber" is a type of wood that is expensive and residents cannot buy it. Additionally, the authority is unable to solve this issue due to its limited financial resources.
In turn, the Deputy Director of the Old Sana'a District, Mujahid Al-Ghail, confirmed the existence of coordination between the local authority in the district and the General Authority for the Preservation of Historic Cities, the latter being responsible for safeguarding the heritage in Sana'a and authorized to enforce violations in collaboration with the Antiquities Prosecution. Al-Ghail explained that the district's Office of Public Works reports violations to the Authority, which then seeks solutions to halt what poses a threat to the old city of Sana'a and its heritage. Responding to a question from "Khuyut" about whether there is support for the residents of Sana'a to help them purchase wooden doors, Al-Ghail said, "Support mostly comes from organizations interested in heritage, such as UNESCO, and it is the responsibility of the General Authority for the Preservation of Historic Cities to oversee and focus on these projects."
While various entities, both governmental and private, exchange accusations of negligence towards the Old Sana'a, the city stands exhausted from sudden and emergent changes that neither represent it nor relate to its heritage and history. Accordingly, the hopes of everyone remain focused on finding the necessary protection and maintenance for a city that is unparalleled and unique in today's world.
