02 April 2019
“Creative Manama Old Town: A Great Opportunity” by Charles Landry t the Bahrain National Museum
In response to “ Manama Call” initiative, Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities organized on Tuesday 2 April 2019, at 7:00pm, a highly valuable lecture by Charles Landry, the international expert in urban planning and cities, on “Creative Manama Old Town: A Great Opportunity”. The lecture was s attended by H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, intellectuals, academicians, lovers of cultural and architectural heritage in Bahrain.
During his lecture, Charles Landry, presented many examples of archipelagos around the world and how safeguard efforts by government and social society an help preserve the aspects and features of a town, protecting its historical heritage, spontaneously intermingled with modern architecture planning.
Charles Landry shed lights also on Bahrain’s model, namely Manama city, praising BACA’s brilliant scheme to revive the eternal cultural and historical values and sweet memories of Bab al Bahrain, through “5 PM at Bab” initiative and open-air “ Cinema Yateem”.
Photos of some old Manama buildings were also presented, stressing the need to restore and safeguard this heritage that reflects the genuine character of the city. By “ Revitalizing Cities and Towns through Cultural Development' Landry also stressed the need to help cities identify and make the most of their resources and to reach their potential by triggering their inventiveness and thinking, becoming more resilient, self-sustaining and to punch above their weight.
At the end of his lecture, Charles Landry highlighted the importance of collective efforts, whether stemming from official governmental entities or civil society members, to preserve and safeguard the original and genuine identity of “ Manama”, making a profitable investment in its beautiful treasures and urban features.
Worth to mention that this lecture is part of BACA’s “ Manama Call”, aimed at promoting Manama as a symbol of creativity, regionally and internationally, which would hopefully end in its inscription on UNESCO World Heritage List.
