Adaptive Reuse Al-Khan in Palestine: Balancing Historical Integrity with Contemporary Functionality

This research focuses on the adaptive reuse and conservation of the Al-Khan building in Ramallah, Palestine, which dates to the late 18th century. The many transformations of Al-Khan mark the socio-political and cultural turnarounds of the region and therefore provide a useful case study for heritage conservation. Emphasizing the twin purposes of architectural heritage preservation, along with its adaptation to current uses without losing the historical character of the site, the study also makes a comparative analysis of Al-Khan with other Ottoman period projects in Palestine through architectural styles and functional changes This research adopts a qualitative approach by relying on data collection through site visits, reviews of historical documents, and interviews with stakeholders. Results show that modernization and historic conservation can coexist-especially in conflict zones where resources are strained, and their structures have weakened. The adaptive reuse of Al-Khan serves to illustrate the potential for a conservation project to transform a historic site into one integrated with contemporary society. This research enriches the broader discussion of heritage management with its findings and sets strategies for similar initiatives within Palestine and beyond. It has therefore underlined the role of heritage sites as dynamic cultural assets, emphasizing community involvement and innovative conservation practices. Keywords: Adaptive Reuse, Conservation, Architectural heritage, Al-Khan, Palestine