ABSTRACT
Craftsmanship is recognised as living heritage that can revitalise local communities while protecting cultural identity and values. Within this context, knowledge and skills associated to building crafts such as traditional stonemasonry, brick masonry, plasterwork, woodwork, metalwork or glasswork are important for the conservation of built heritage. This paper is affiliated to a doctoral research carried out at Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation. Based on a holistic approach, it investigates the notion of craftsmanship in relation to building skills in Historic Cairo World Heritage property, which represent an endangered living tradition due to accelerating pressures on the site. Influences on construction skills are investigated, identified challenges are reflected on building crafts, and potentials for their reintegration in interventions related to the architectural and urban rehabilitation of Historic Cairo are explored.
