The paradox of urban preservation: balancing permanence and changeability in old Muslim cities

Preservation policies, generally based on the intervention of the state, protective regulations, and the freezing of permissible building alterations, often stand in contradiction to the incremental process that generates cities and buildings. Considering the urban dynamics that characterise Muslim cities, including population growth, rural migration, urban poverty, and the informal economy, such preservation policies are becoming increasingly obsolete. This article aims at presenting a compromise approach to urban preservation that is based on a balance between the two opposite, yet complementary terms: permanence and changeability. A classification of urban components into permanent and changeable would enable policymakers to establish action plans for urban preservation according to priorities and the availability of funds, thus helping to ensure urban sustainability.