Frank Samol - Cultural Heritage

I have worked at the intersection of urban development, cultural heritage, and post-conflict recovery, with a focus on how cities rebuild identity, social fabric, and governance alongside bricks and mortar.

My experience ranges from managing international cooperation projects to developing practical tools and policy-relevant concepts for protecting and restoring urban cultural heritage in fragile and post-crisis contexts, including work centred on Aleppo.

I have collaborated closely with local professionals, international organisations, and multidisciplinary teams, translating complex heritage challenges into actionable strategies that link reconstruction, participation, and long-term urban resilience.

Urban Cultural Heritage in Conflict Regions

2017 - 2018

Photo: Jwanah Qudsi

Urban Cultural Heritage in Conflict Regions

2017 - 2018

Management of a German Federal Foreign Office–funded project developing concepts and an online toolkit for protecting and restoring urban cultural heritage in post-conflict recovery, with Aleppo (Syria) and other cities in the MENA region as case studies, in collaboration with Syrian and German professionals and international organisations including UN-Habitat, UNESCO, and ICCROM.

Cultural Heritage in the EU Neighbourood Region

2009 - 2013

Networking on Cultural Heritage in the EU Neighbourhood Region

2009- 2013 EU CIUDAD Programme

Timisoara and Iasi • Romania

2008

Timisoara and Iași in Romania

2007 - EU URBACT Programme

Technical assistance to cities and municipalities in the new EU Member States supported by the EU URBACT programme to prepare applications for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) financing for the 2007–2013 funding period.

Short-term consultancy missions to Timișoara and Iași (Romania) supporting the preparation of integrated urban development projects, with a strong focus on the rehabilitation of the historic city centres.

Sibiu • Romania

2001 - 2006

Heritage-sensitive urban regeneration of the historic centre of Sibiu in Romania

2001- 2006 - GTZ

Advisory support to the municipal administration on improving procedures for urban rehabilitation.

This included support for inner-city planning preparation, organising planning processes; further development and use of GIS to monitor spatal information, updating the Municipal Action Programme; and contributing to sector-specific working materials and publications.

Mostar • Bosnia - Hercegovina

1994

Photo: Ihsan Isik on Unsplash

Reconstruction of the City of Mostar in Bosnia - Hercegovina

1994 - GTZ / EUAM

Under the auspices of the European Union Administration of Mostar (EUAM), I facilitated a planning workshop for the reconstruction of public buildings, monuments, and technical infrastructure in the historic city of Mostar, including initial discussions of the reconstruction of the city’s iconic brigde, to be funded by the European Union.

Aleppo • Syria

1991 - 1996

Rehabilitation of the Old City of Aleppo in Syria

1991 - 1996 - German Technical Cooperation

I was involved in the appraisal and planning of a technical cooperation project supporting the rehabilitation of Aleppo’s Old City in Syria. I further provided advisory support during the initial stages of the project's implementation, including the development of an action-oriented urban development framework for the historic centre and the design of a revolving fund to finance emergency repairs to historic buildings.