8/12/2019 Conservation proposals offer brighter future for Tripoli's Red Castle - Lybia Herald del 1 giugno 2014

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1.6.2014 Conservation proposals offer brighter

future for Tripolis Red Castle By Tom Westcott .

The urban complex built within the walls of the Red Castle poses a challenge toconservationists ( Photo: Tom Westcott )

Tripoli, 1 June 2014 :

A new architectural book setting out a range of proposals and guidelines for theconservation and restoration of Tr ipolis Red Castle could boost the future of oneof the capitals most important buildings.

Il Castello Rosso di Tripoli: Unesperienza di ricerca per un intervento diconservazione - the culmination of years of research was presented to theDepartment of Antiquities at a Tripoli conference last week.

It is a preliminary work, to allow Libyans to make decisions about the future ofthe building, author and a Professor at Italys University of Urbino, LauraBaratin, told the Libya Herald . It shows differ ent guidelines and paths that couldbe followed, all of which conform to international standards.

Parts of the landmark building, which is home to Tripoli Museum as well as manyvaluable Libyan archives, date back to the seventh century. Successive structuraladditions, as well as neglect and multiple uses, have left the building in avulnerable condition.

Parts of the castle have been neglected and are in urgent need of conservation( Photo: Tom Westcott )

The Red Castle has problems with humidity, water ingress and rising damp, Baratin

explained. An added difficulty is the different materials used in both the originalconstruction and subsequent building work. Numerous interventions and additions tothe original structure also needed to be taken into account in the research, shesaid.

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Its proximity to Martyrs Square and its current functions, including housing manyimportant historic artefacts in the museum, were also considered when puttingforward potential guidelines for future conservation and use. The Red Castle wasboth a monument and a functional space, Baratni explained, which added anotherdimension to the research.

The Red Castle is not a small or e asy project but the important thing about thiswork is that it is a big first step so the Department of Antiquities does not haveto start from scratch, Baratin said.

The research has taken years to complete, with most work undertaken between 2005 and2009. It involved an in-depth survey of the whole building, including the urbancomplex within the walls, as well as chemical and technical analysis of buildingmaterials. This informed suggestions for how best to proceed with conserving it,Baratin said.

The Red Castle is home to some of Libyas most important museum collections ( Photo:Tom Westcott )

It was a useful event and we consider the book as a next step for us to put planstogether to preserve this castle, Adel Al -Turki from the Department of Antiquitiessaid. My feeling is that we first need to have a view regarding th e future use ofthe castle, whether it will be a place for tourists or whether we will continue touse it for various purposes, including some offices.

Turki added that establishing a future plan for the castle was the priority. It isdifficult to make decisions about the conservation of the building without knowingwhat it will be in the future, he said.

Baratin said she was delighted by the many questions that followed the presentationof the work, which showed how interested and committed Libyans were to preservingthe building.

Rubens Piovano the Director of the Italian Institute in Tripoli which organisedthe conference, described as one of the most important pieces of Libyas heritage.When you say Tripoli, people think of the Red Castle, he sai d.

Several initial copies of the work were presented on Thursday, but two hundred morehave been printed and will be delivered to the Department of Antiquities.

Baratin said she hoped work would start quickly on the Red Castle. Stability andsecurity problems are holding progress back, but Libya needs to invest more in this

project, she said.

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Baratin pointed out that Europe should also commit itself to helping conserve thebuilding. It belongs not just to Libya, but to humanity, especially as Tripoli isthe gateway to Libya.

The project was funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaborationwith the Libyan Department of Antiquities, which falls under the Ministry ofCulture. The book presentation event was organised by the Italian Cultural Institutein Tripoli.