A Study for the enhancement of the religious complex of the Orthodox church of the Annunciation in Nazareth - DEMO

The Study for the Enhancement of the Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth comprises a development proposal for the Annunciation religious complex in Nazareth in Israel, which, with its indoor and outdoor areas, encloses inestimable symbolic and cultural values but is also suffering from the incredible pressure caused by the constant and heavy flow of visitors from the both people of Nazareth and tourists. Consequently, the development approach required combining the preservation of the site with a method to ensure it is compatible with the growing and varied functions it has to satisfy. To achieve this, studies were conducted into the forms, functions and meanings of the various parts of the church and the surrounding urban fabric, and included a survey and graphic representation of the religious complex, identifying the levels of decline and the potential quality that could be expressed by the multiple tangible and intangible values contained in both the complex itself and the surrounding neighbourhood. The analytical results enabled drafting a proposal of project indications addressed to the principles of value, as expressed by Italian legislation regarding cultural assets and by international doctrine (ICOMOS, UNESCO). The project proposals aim at modulating human pressure on the religious complex, while guaranteeing adequate services for inhabitants and tourists alike and an enhanced visibility of the site.