Project R-9896

The Aspects of Community-Based Approach towards Adaptive Reuse of Heritage Buildings, as a catalyst for Urban Regeneration: A Case Study of Heritage Buildings in the Historic Town of Bagamoyo. (Research)

The history of Bagamoyo, dates as far back as 18th century, when Bagamoyo was under the control of the Shomvi diwans. This is a term used to describe wealthy ruling class of businessmen at that time. Bagamoyo came under the rule of Sultan Majid of Zanzibar from 1856 to 1870. Three historic architectural styles have been identified in Bagamoyo, namely Islamic architecture, Swahili-Islamic Architecture, and Hybrid Architecture. But up to 1900 Its trade was mostly focused on slaves and ivory, which makes its heritage now 'contested' or 'contentious'. Reactivating this heritage requires a sensitive and inclusive approach. This research theorizes that there is a set of innovative socio-economic and cultural ideas and preferences that will be obtained from the Bagamoyo community, which will aid in the positive adaptive reuse of the heritage buildings in Bagamoyo. The general objective of the research is to foster better, inclusive and more balanced processes towards adaptive reuse of Heritage buildings; to understand the socio-economic, and cultural ideas and preferences; and to review and refine community ideas, as well as develop a strategy that can be applied in the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings in Bagamoyo. Through Literature Review, Fieldwork, Mapping and Research by Design/Adaptive Reuse, this research is expected to produce both new knowledge about the positive or negative impacts of the bottom-up approach towards adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, community empowerment, and the revival of Bagamoyo economically, socially and culturally. In the end, the ultimate goal is for the positive regeneration and revitalization of Bagamoyo and its inhabitants, to experience and fully participate in the socio-economic prosperity as a melting point of history, cultures, agriculture, business, trade, art and craft, which Bagamoyo was renowned for in the past.

01 July 2019 - 04 December 2020