Adaptive Reuse of Historic Dwellings into Cafés: Design Challenges and Planning Issues in Hebron
Abstract
This research examines a phenomenon that has emerged recently: the trend of young people frequenting cafes and restaurants as a social practice that became prominent in the early 21st century in the city of Hebron. It has been observed that some historically significant old dwellings have been chosen as subjects for redesigning and transforming them into cafes and restaurants. The research problem revolves around the design challenges and issues that may arise in redesigning historical dwellings, the success of the transformation process, and the design principles necessary to preserve cultural property and protect it from damage and alterations to its historical features, cultural heritage, and identity. It delves into preserving such properties through reuse, especially for dwellings that have been redesigned. The study included analyzing several models in the old city of Hebron. This region was chosen due to the rapid transformation in social thoughts and customs and the presence of the old town, along with historically significant dwellings utilized in the process of reuse and redesign. This research follows a scientific analytical and documentary methodology, involving the review of several dwelling models, literature, materials, books, and scientific research. Information was gathered through interviews and surveys to collect sufficient data for analysis and result extraction. The study concluded by emphasizing the value of integrating traditional architectural features into interior design when adapting old dwellings into cultural cafés. It demonstrated that adaptive reuse enhances both aesthetics and functionality, especially when using local materials and sustainable solutions. The reuse of existing elements—such as niches and cabinets—combined with thoughtful interventions addressed common issues like humidity and outdated infrastructure, while preserving cultural identity and reducing costs.
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Interviews
Engineer Noha Dandees, Reconstruction Committee, March 2024, Hebron.
Mr. Talib Al-Zaru, January 2024.
Mr. Zaid Al-Rajabi, Owner of Zikra Café, February 2024.
Mr. and Mrs. Mona Abu Asneina - Yasser Duweik, Owners of Café Bouvardio, February 2024
Engineer Hatem Al-Muhtasib, Project Engineer, February 2024.
Authors
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Article Details
Accepted 2025-05-28
Published 2025-07-31