Al-Qasem Palace
An Outstanding Example of “Throne Village Architecture”
2004 World Monuments Watch
The Al-Qasem family sheikdom, a semi-feudal family, produced an urban piece of architecture in a rural context as a mark of its importance and status. Following the collapse of the Ottoman rule in 1916, the sheiks of Al-Qasem Palace fled from Beit Wazan to Nablus.
An earthquake in 1927 caused substantial damage to the structure, which was later occupied by the German army during WWII. Although the palace is still owned by the Qasem family, it has been abandoned and is deteriorating quickly. An-Najah University has negotiated a long-term lease with the Al-Qasem family to preserve the house and reuse it as an architectural conservation center; however, funds and technical assistance are needed for this to succeed.
In 2003 the site was restored by Riwaq, a Palestinian cultural heritage organization, with $288,000 in funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The site was restored for use by the Urban and Regional Development Center of An-Najah National University.
World Monuments Fund
Through the World Monuments Watch, WMF collaborates with local partners to design and implement targeted conservation programs—including advocacy, planning, education, and physical interventions in the historic built environment—to improve human well-being through cultural heritage preservation.