Brutalification of heritage: simulacra of the pearling path, Al Muharraq

Abstract

The concept of simulacra refers to imitations or representations of people, objects, or places that lack a tangible original referent, or that may have never possessed one to begin with. The absence of a tangible referent challenges the authenticity and relevance of simulacra in architectural heritage contexts, particularly when they are utilized to represent intangible traditions. This phenomenon emerged along the Pearling Path in Al-Muharraq, Bahrain, following its designation as a UNESCO WHS in 2012. Several contemporary architectural projects, influenced by Brutalist aesthetics and designed by renowned architectural firms, were built to symbolically represent the intangible heritage of the pearling tradition while simultaneously addressing spatial voids within the urban fabric. This research examines how these simulacra, manifested through Brutalist-architectural projects, contribute to the notion of Brutalification of heritage. By employing the qualitative-interpretive methodology, which integrates theoretical critique with spatial void analysis, the study first categorizes the simulacra of Pearling Path underpinned by Baudrillard's order. Subsequently, it indicates that these simulacra tend to portray staged or existential authenticity and are accepted as a tangible referent. Based on the analysis, this study coins the term “Brutalification”, which emerges as a cultural consumption process and is directly associated with the tangible interpretation of intangible heritage.