Launch of the collaboration between ARCHAÏOS, the NCCAL & the CEFREPA in the field of restoration and preservation of cultural heritage

The French Ambassador, Olivier Gauvin, announced the launch of a new collaboration between the National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature (NCCAL), the French Research Center of the Arabian Peninsula (CEFREPA), and the French company ARCHAÏOS. This partnership introduces a pioneering training program designed to empower Kuwaiti architects and archaeologists with the tools and expertise required to analyze and survey historical buildings and heritage structures prior to their restoration.

The program seamlessly blends theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience, providing trainees with invaluable insights under the guidance of seasoned trainers and passionate experts. By focusing on architectural remains, the initiative sheds light on the region’s rich history and the evolution of human settlement.

The methodology adopted for this program is groundbreaking, utilizing non-invasive approaches to analyze a variety of structures-whether military, religious, civil, domestic, funerary, or palatial. Each building’s unique story, shaped by human intervention and natural forces over time, is unveiled through this meticulous process.

The training is conducted at the historic Al-Gharballi and Nadjaf Ben Mohamed Ridah houses in the Old Souq of Mubarakiya. Over ten days, participants will survey these historic buildings to unravel their history, establish timelines of their occupation and construction, and propose reconstructions of missing architectural elements.

Managed by ARCHAÏOS in partnership with CEFREPA and NCCAL, the program equips trainees with advanced skills in archaeological mapping, digital recording using innovative technologies, and strategies for conserving and promoting cultural heritage. ARCHAÏOS, a French scientific research company specializing in cultural heritage and archaeology, is known for its expertise in building preservation and its commitment to knowledge-sharing.

This training program is part of a broader collaboration that CEFREPA and NCCAL have fostered since 2015 in the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage preservation. Past achievements include annual colloquia in Kuwait City, such as the recent symposium on material culture in the Arabian Peninsula, with next year’s conference in April 2025 set to focus on architecture and national identity.

Additionally, the partnership supports two ongoing Franco-Kuwaiti archaeological missions: the excavation of Al-Qusur’s Christian monastery and the study of the Hellenistic fortress on Failaka Island. Notably, this collaboration has also played a key role in Kuwait’s efforts to inscribe Failaka on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This project recently achieved a significant milestone with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between NCCAL and the World Monuments Fund in New York last August.

Key Figures in the Training Program

• NCCAL: Dr. Muhammad AL-JASSAR (SG of the NCCAL) & Zahra Ali Baba (Architect, Head of the historical buildings at the NCCAL.
• ARCHAÏOS: Dr. Jessica Giraud (President), Sarra Ben Bader (Architect, Trainer), Gabriela Camargo-Méndez (Archaeologist, Trainer)
• CEFREPA: Dr. Makram Abbes (Director)

Program Details

• Dates: December 1-12, 2024
• Location: CEFREPA, Kuwait City
• Structure: 10 days, 5 days per week, with half-day sessions from 9 AM to 3 PM
• Participants: 10 Kuwaiti architects and engineers

For more information, please contact: CEFREPA: direction@cefrepa.cnrs.fr