Riwaq (organization)

Riqaq is a center for the preservation of architectural heritage on the West Bank of Palestine. The organization settles in Ramallah and owes it name mainly to a riwaq, which is an arcade in Islamic architecture.

Riwaq was founded in 1991 with the subjective to preserve cultural heritage. Researchers of the center have compiled a detailed register of historic buildings in Palestine. Buildings at this location are frequently threatened by military occupation and counter actions of inhabitants. In the course of twenty years since its foundation Riwaq had completed more than one hundred restoration projects, including major monuments in the old inner part of Jerusalem and the renovation of historic streets in the inner part of Bethlehem.