Preserving Architectural Heritage and Sustainable Development in Tanzania. University Research and South-South Cooperation

Tanzania faces significant challenges and opportunities within its urban and rural landscapes. A prevalent issue is the existence of numerous abandoned buildings constructed from both local materials and reinforced concrete. These structures pose aesthetic and environmental problems but offer potential for urban and rural regeneration and sustainability through circular economy principles.

International studies involving universities and research centers from Africa, Italy, and China have focused on sustainable design and historical-architectural conservation in Tanzania. Extensive observations of various architectural interventions across the Tanzanian region have revealed a landscape marked by underutilization and hybrid technologies, presenting both vernacular and contemporary features. Numerous historically valuable buildings in urban and peri-urban areas could undergo revitalization to reclaim cultural and territorial heritage.

In particular, Dar es Salaam faces a critical challenge: balancing rapid economic development with architectural preservation. The government’s strategy of constructing skyscrapers in the city center threatens the unique character of early 20th-century low-rise, mixed-use buildings. Observations and documentation of this transformation express concern over the loss of traditional Swahili houses and early post-independence structures, a disappearing architectural marvel. Despite ongoing demolitions, the potential for preservation remains. The Dar es Salaam Centre for Architectural Heritage (DARCH) aims to safeguard endangered structures through research and conservation efforts. This research, developed since 2008 through several architectural projects in the territory and, since 2018, thanks to the collaboration between the University of Brescia (IT) and the RUCU of Iringa (TZ), also promotes the exchange of skills through education and the use of relevant advanced technologies, such as the laboratories of the Teaching Museum ZUMAA and the ZIBS Zhejiang University of Hangzhou, China.

A comprehensive approach to regenerating abandoned buildings, involving collaboration among international entities, architects, local authorities, and communities, necessitates detailed structural analysis, stakeholder engagement, and the use of local, sustainable materials. This strategy mitigates environmental impact, promotes local skills and resources, fosters a resilient and sustainable built environment, and enhances the cultural heritage of these places alongside their strategic economic contribution linked to tourism.