Prince Sultan University's participation at the International Restoration Week
JAX Riyadh October 1–5, 2025 During the International Restoration Week organized by the Saudi Heritage Commission, Dr. Silvia Mazzetto—Associate Professor, Research Director of the College of Architecture and Design, and Leader of the Sustainable Architecture Lab (SA Lab) at Prince Sultan University—participated in two key sessions showcasing Saudi Arabia’s pioneering role in heritage restoration and digital innovation.
On Wednesday, October 1, Dr. Mazzetto joined the international panel on “International Efforts in the Restoration of Architectural Heritage,” sharing insights from SA Lab’s research projects on HBIM and GIS modeling, IoT sensor networks, and AI-based Digital Twin Heritage frameworks which are applied to sites such as Ushaiger Village, Dar Tantora in AlUla, and Beit Jokhdar in Historic Jeddah. She emphasized the reinterpretation of global conservation charters on Authenticity within the Saudi context, advocating for a balance of authenticity, innovation, and community participation. On October 3rd, she presented “Regenerative Lessons from Ushaiger,” he underscored the importance of community-driven restoration, adaptive reuse, and material life-cycle assessment, while also presenting SA Lab’s multidisciplinary research on digital heritage, environmental modeling, and socio-cultural sustainability. Her talk reinforced Saudi Arabia’s leadership in merging tradition with innovation, where digital technologies, local craftsmanship, and participatory design converge to shape regenerative urban futures aligned with Vision 2030.
