Finding Common Ground: The Monuments of Ramesses the Great and Urban Transformations

Abstract

This thesis explores the potential of an urban transformation that negotiates between heritage and urban development. The subjects of this study are the monuments of Ramesses II in Abu Simbel, Egypt, which underwent an extreme form of transformation as a result of urban development in the 1960s. The proposal for its continued transformation seeks to integrate tourism with the social, environmental, and economic realities of the local community; and it consists of a series of interventions operating at multiple scales but striving towards the same goal. The goal is to elucidate the story of Abu Simbel and enhance visitors’ experience, while celebrating the culture of the place and resonating with the local community.