Pearling path pedestrian bridge: a link to Bahrain’s pearling heritage
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities has completed the construction of a new pedestrian bridge connecting Qal’at Bu Mahir Fort castle, the first site of the Pearling Path, with the remainder of the trail extending 3.5 kilometres inside the historic city of Muharraq.
Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, the President of the BACA, said, “The bridge restores the historical link between the Old City and the shores of the Bu Maher castle.” “It will enhance visitors experience at the World Heritage site,” added Shaikha Mai.
The bridge, which has a length of 165.2 meters, is part of “Pearling Path: Testimony of an Island Economy” project on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2012.
The path extends for about three kilometres, starting from the pearling sites (known locally as “hayrat”) near Bu Maher Fort, South of Muharraq, to Siyadi House and Mosque in the heart of the historical city of Muharraq.
The bridge allows visitors to the castle between 12:00 noon and 6:00 pm, while it serves the residents of Muharraq round the clock.
“Pearling Path: Testimony of an Island Economy” project is also the second site of Bahrain registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Kresten Geers and David Van Severen in collaboration with Ismael Khonji Architects designed the bridge.
Although Muharraq’s pearling economy subsided in the 1930s, the grand narrative it produced remains the most significant source of Bahraini cultural identity.
More than a mere “story”, this grand narrative is a comprehensive, shared memory and a thorough explanation of historical experience and traditional knowledge that provides meaning to contemporary identity throughout the Arabian Gulf.
Related Posts