Historic urban landscape of Khartoum, the capital of the Sudan

Ref.: 265
Área temática: 03 Integridad visual de los paisajes urbanos históricos
Fecha de recepción: 14/11/2008

AUTORES (* Autor principal)

SOGHAYROUN ELZAIN, Intisar * (Sudán) - University of Khartoum

ABSTRACT

Khartoum is situated in one of the best and finest places in the world, where the Blue and the White Niles meet. The town since mid of the 19th century has witnessed periods of growth and destruction during the Turkish, the Mahdy regime (revolution against the Turkish rule), then the condominium rule (British-Egyptians). Most of the present buildings that will be discussed in this paper date back to the Turkish and condominium rule (c.1850-1950). Since that time it has expanded and more areas are invested, to the north a new industrial area and the boat transportation unit which were followed by new residential areas. To its west are the remains of Omdurman (the national capital) the Mahdy's stronghold. The capital is called the Triangular Capital as it consists today of three towns: Khartoum, Khartoum North and Omdurman
The buildings in Khartoum include the Republican Palace, most of the main ministries, the University of Khartoum (Gordon Memorial College) and the grand mosque of Khartoum beside some of the Turkish tombs. The main historic part lies along the Nile bank (Blue Nile). While in Omdurman, the remains include the Caliph House, the prison, the Mahdy tomb, and part of the fortification.
The landscape is suffering from two problems: 1. addition of more edifices to the historic ones and/or change of worn out parts using new alien material 2. The growing of new buildings using new material and colors which change the landscape completely.
One of the intentions of this paper is to investigate the visual relationship, between the original landscape and the present day situation through reference to Khartoum at its very beginning until the mid of the 20th century, then from that time until present. Details of construction like paving, drain gutters, lights, air conditioning will be illuminated. It is also intended to discuss the antiquities laws of the country and international ones and to what extent they are implemented. The importance of understanding the historic urban landscape before undertaking any contempo¬rary architectural project is absent in Khartoum. It is not present in the minds of city planners and developers. The lack of understanding of the meaning of heritage is one of the main problems of antiquities in Sudan. For them these are the remnants of a period abhorred by the Sudanese (colonization) and hence it is not necessary to keep the architectural design of the period to survive. The ambition to modernization which is rightful, is carried without consideration of its impact on the city's identity. One of the problematic situations is the high-rise buildings in or around historic centers, like new theatres within the University of Khartoum main campus.
It is hoped that the paper can portray the present-day situation, the flaws and possible means of protection and improvement. It is also hoped that such study can help in attracting attention of international bodies as most of their attention now is focused in ancient remains and their registering as world heritage list which is equally important but in the meanwhile another heritage will be lost.

BIBLIOGRAFÍA

Abu Saleem, M. I ,1991, History of Khartoum (in Arabic) Lebanon.
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Budge, E. A. W. 1907 The Egyptian Sudan, London, 2 vols.
El-Sayed El Bushra 1971, Towns in the Sudan in the 18th and 19th centuries, Sudan Notes and Records vol. lii, pp 63-70., Khartoum
Gleichen, A. W. E. 1905 The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, a compendium prepared by officers of the Sudan Government, London, 2 vols.
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Neufeld, C. 1899, A prisoner of the khaleefa. Twelve years' captivity at Omdurman, London.