This insight inspired Noura to join the UNESCO Kingdoms Institute Fellowship Programme in 2022. During the fellowship, she studied the indigenous knowledge behind the construction of AlUla’s traditional mudbrick houses and uncovered the ancient wisdom that enabled these homes to withstand the region's challenging and harsh weather.
Despite the profound connections between climate change and natural and cultural heritage, today there are thousands of carriers of indigenous knowledge, researchers, and heritage advocates whose talents have not yet been mobilized to address climate change issues.
During the four months of the fellowship spent studying AlUla’s oases and Old Town, Noura explored the unique environmental design of the region’s old earthen houses, built from local materials. These mudbrick homes have withstood storms, intense heat, and dramatically changing weather conditions for centuries. Working alongside archaeologists and experts from UNESCO and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), Noura documented the architectural characteristics of these homes, which were adapted for thermal comfort and designed to allow the local community to live in different parts of the house depending on the season.
In addition to the research tools and technologies used to test and understand the functional design, Noura spent many evenings interviewing local community members. Through their personal stories, she discovered that their lyrical heritage carried ancient wisdom passed down through generations. Not only did they record their life practices through poetry and proverbs, but they also connected their traditions to astrological phenomena, such as the ascension of the moon and the movement of the stars.
Sitting on the ground with the locals, gazing at the skies on pitch-dark nights, and listening to people tell their stories and recite their poems, I learned more than I ever could have in the most technologically advanced classrooms!
Continuing her journey, Noura spent the second half of her fellowship in the UNESCO Field Office in Venice where she focused on enhancing how her knowledge and research can be combined with UNESCO’s policies and framework to benefit climate action at an international level. She also took part in the preparation of an exhibition on Polyfunctional Architecture in UNESCO designated sites.
