Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2026

Abstract

Historic sites are vital components of cities' urbanism, embodying distinctive spatial, architectural, and cultural narratives that shape their character. Their significance extends beyond the built environment, arising from the interplay between tangible elements, such as building forms and spatial organization, and intangible socio-cultural aspects. In many historic sites in Egypt and the Arab world, underuse has led to a decline in social vibrancy, reducing their contribution to the urban fabric. To address this issue, global strategies and tools such as adaptive reuse, placemaking, and festivalization have been employed to revitalize historic public spaces. This research explores the potential of festivalization and event-based interventions to revitalize historic sites in Egypt. Following a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates a critical literature review, socio-spatial mapping, and a survey questionnaire to achieve its aim of developing a theoretical framework for revitalizing historic sites through festivalization. Through a critical discussion, the research determines in its developed framework that a combination of strategically designed event-based interventions and contextually sensitive socio-spatial strategies is required to revitalize historic sites and enhance their social vibrancy and character in Egypt.

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