Cultural Memories for Better Place Experience: The Case of Orabi Square in Alexandria, Egypt

Abstract

Globalization is associated with significant transformations in city forms and cultural and social performances. Governments and cultural heritage organisations increasingly appreciate the importance of preserving diverse physical cultural heritage through rehabilitation and the implementation of conservation plans. Nevertheless, there is a need to evaluate whether these plans understand the importance of cultural memory in societies, as well as how it affects the human psyche. Utilizing Orabi Square, which is one of the richest Historic Urban Landscapes (HUL) in the metropolitan city of Alexandria in Egypt, this study aims to answer the question; to what extent does Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) management present a situation that maintains cultural memory and achieve psychosocial well-being? The research explored the site’s old and new conditions and place experience, applying a qualitative approach through onsite face-to-face semi-structured interviews combined with data from a Facebook group—Alexandria’s Spirit. The QSR Nvivo12 analysis program was used for the data interpretation and for charting the intangible values accompanying cultural memory such as emotions and behaviour. The study indicated that cultural memory is an affective catalyst for emotional attachment to place and is an important factor informing sense of place. Based on our study, inclusion of cultural memories should be an integral element in the future management plans of Orabi Square to enhance place experience and psychosocial well-being.

Memory for Social Sustainability: Recalling Cultural Memories in Zanqit Alsitat Historical Street Market, Alexandria, Egypt

“…Within our previous research, the case of Orabi Square, was utilized to contrast the site's historical versus current conditions in concert with the concept of place experience. This study demonstrated that cultural memory has an active role in shaping the emotional attachment to place, and contributes to a sense of place that promotes a rich quality of life and place experience [40]. Our recent publication on the demolished theatre 'Masrah Al Salam', presented a rich case to explore the importance given to cultural memory by the people inhabiting the study area.…”

Grounded Theory as an Approach for Exploring the Effect of Cultural Memory on Psychosocial Well-Being in Historic Urban Landscapes

“…The first paper addressed Orabi Square and the research focused on two particular aspects: changes in the fabric of the site over time, and place experience. In this case study, it was demonstrated that cultural memory actively promotes emotional attachment to place, which is important in the development of a sense of place, which in turn enables higher QoL and an enhanced place experience (Hussein et al 2020b). The second paper addressed our research into Masrah Al Salam.…”

“…To do this, the paper refers to case studies previously conducted at three sites in Alexandria, Egypt, in the Orabi Square, Masrah Al Salam context and Zanqit Alsitat market. Each of these places have been the subject of published research papers (Hussein et al 2020a(Hussein et al , 2020b(Hussein et al , 2020c that have developed GT to advantage in analysis. This paper uses these case studies as a ground for the discussion of GT as an approach for exploring the effect of cultural memory on psychosocial well-being in historic urban landscapes.…”

Cultural Memories and Sense of Place in Historic Urban Landscapes: The Case of Masrah Al Salam, the Demolished Theatre Context in Alexandria, Egypt

“…In another study, we utilised the case of Orabi Square, as one of the HULs in Alexandria (Egypt), in order to explore the site's historical and new conditions and place experience. In the aforementioned study, we were able to demonstrate that cultural memory is an active catalyst for emotional attachment to place, and is an important factor informing sense of place for better place experience [44].…”

“…The interview questions were designed, and pilot tested on two interviewees to check questions for clarity and to identify the time requirements. The pilot interviews resulted in minor modifications to the wording of the questions, and the final revised semi-structured interview consisted of 20 questions covering the research's conceptual themes [44].…”