Towards Housing Renewal Policy In Palestinian City Centers/ Case Study Nablus City

This study investigates the issue of adaptation of traditional residential buildings to contemporary needs. The study is an attempt towards the development of a general policy for rehabilitation and adaptation of traditional residential buildings in the historic centers of Palestinian cities. The study is based on an empirical case study carried out in Nablus. It investigates the traditional residential quarters of the old city. Field investigations were undertaken by a questionnaire survey administered on a random sample of traditional houses distributed all over the old town, in addition to field visits and personal observations. SPSS was used to analyze and interpret the collected data in order to explore the present condition of old buildings in the old city. Assessment of the present condition of residential quarters revealed the significant problems and highlighted potentials for prospect solutions. The study demonstrated the high potentiality of the traditional house to satisfy the contemporary needs of its inhabitants. Modification needed vary from one building to another and are to be determined according to the building value and the level of intervention it allows. The study outlined a general policy for housing rehabilitation that could be applied to other historic cities in Palestinian.