Chongqing University

Graduate Program
In Architecture

U r b a n T h e o r y
Consider improving
The Syrian coast line

Master Student: Sarah Omran

Objectives and aims:
Learn from Italian case how to coordinate the coasts based on the Mediterranean architecture style

other objective:
Find an implementation plan to develop regional tourism in Syrian Coastal Region.

Italy - Amalfi Syria-latakia

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 2
Syrian Coastal Region:
• Proximity to Europe and Arab countries
• Strategic location on the Mediterranean
• Connection between 3 different continents Africa, Asia
and Europe

Mediterranean Basin Location of Syria

Syria Syria coast line

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 3

Syrian Coastal Region includes tow governorates in total
4200km²: Lattakia area / 2,300 km². Tartous area / 1,900 km².

Tartous Lattakia

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 4

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 5
 When the mountain and sea meet . This place is the best for tourism because of
beauty of landscape and comfortable and fresh feelings it gives to the person

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 6

Problems:
• While Syrian Coastal Region has good potentials to compete in the
tourism industry (culture, climate, history, sea, opportunities for
investment because of cheap labor)
• • Still regional tourism is not recognized in Syrian Coastal Region,
• • By which Coastal Region is not the most popular touristic
destination.
• The problem can be summed, “Syrian Coastal Region is not a
successful regional tourism destination considering all the potentials
and assets it has”.

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 7

Hypothesis:
Syrian Coastal Region could be “a popular tourist destination” with its identity on the
Mediterranean , while Italy is successful in regional tourism and has a spatial identity.
The study will try to learn from the experience of Italy to improve the Syrian coast

Italy Syria-latakia

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 8

Questions:
Why and how regional tourism in itay Province is a successful experience?
Secondary questions:
2- Which parts of Italian regional tourism have been the most important for this success
3- Have Mediterranean elements played a big role in this success of Regional Tourism

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 9

study strategy
• Choose Arwad island (Syrian island on the Mediterranean Sea) and find a comparison with an island on
Italian coast by studying the history of each and analyzing the accessibilities and elements of Mediterranean
style.

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 10

History Mediterranean basid

The Mediterranean Sea is located between the

continents of the three ancient world (Africa, Asia
and Europe). It covers an area of 2.5 million
square kilometers. It has been surrounded by
ancient human civilizations that have led the Nautical Chart of the Mediterranean Sea Phoenician ship
world for many centuries. For its strategic value.

such as the Babylonian civilization, Assyrian,

Phoenician, Egyptian, Greek, Persian, Roman and
Islamic, Western civilization that leads the world
today.

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 11

arwad island

Arwad is a phoenician Island lies on the eastern coast of the

Mediterranean Sea, the only inhabited island in Syria. The town
of Arwad takes up the entire island. It is located 3 kilometres
from Tartus, Syria's second largest port. Today, it is mainly a
fishing town.
covering sand rocks known as the "Ramle" stone, and drawing
these rocks when they meet the sea, balconies and coastal
groves. The island is surrounded by a small group of islands
called "Arwad's daughters."

The island is characterized by its corridors and winding streets,

Crusader castle, Islamic stronghold, and the tower of Ayyubid,
and the remains of its huge wall and its complex housing.

Arwad has long been known for shipbuilding

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 12

 arwad island current situation

1-The main market is the island where shops,

vendors of vegetables and fruit and three
bakeries. There are a number of restaurants and
cafes on the east and south sides of the island.

2- The houses on the rest of the island are spread

out in close proximity, narrow alleys for pedestrian
traffic, and there are no cars or vehicles on the
island.

3- The land is paved with the most cement and

the least stone. Most of the roles are two-tier and
as the population grows, the number of classes
increases to four.

4- The building material was sandstone and

became reinforced concrete, and the roofs of
houses level with a slight slope

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 13

 Capri Habour.
The simple colorful housis made of local building
materials, their wooden doors , the other built of
sandstone give the place charm and simplicity
Arwad Habour.

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 14

Sea Side restaurant at capry where you can enjoy fresh Sea Side restaurant at Arwad where you can enjoy fresh
seafood. seafood.

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 15

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 16
8/25/2019 Sarah omran 17
 Capry boats Boatbuilding is one of the main things on the
island. But the problem is that it didn’t take
its right and wasn’t presented prperty

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 18

 capri open arear. Arwad open area.

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 19

 Architectural beauty , urban design and urban
coordination don’t mask complexity . But
simplicity creates beauty and excellence
capri open arear.
Arwad open arear.

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 20

 capri narrow street.

The narrow alleys with their local flowers

give the place charm and simplicity
arwad narrow street.
8/25/2019 Sarah omran 21
 italy stone. syria stone.
8/25/2019 Sarah omran 22
 italy mountain syria mountain

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 23

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 24
8/25/2019 Sarah omran 25
Study purposed:

- Support the tourism of arwad by showing the history of this town in a modern
and attractive way by focusing on the sanctity of the castle and removing the
encroachments and inappropriate activities which constitute an infringement on
archaeological and historical areas.
- Revive the true nature of island using the modern features of Mediterranean
architecture
- Involving the residents of arwad in the process of tourism development,
which helps reduce the local rejection of tourism movement by reviving the
environmental character of work of nets and the manufacture of boats as an
elements of tourist attractions
- Projects that provide a number of tourist activities require accommodation
by more than 5 days with the creation of seasonal events and global
competitions

8/25/2019 Sarah omran 26