مركز الزائرين

The location for the visitor center was chosen close to the monastery both to facilitate visitor attendance and as a control point. Fantastic views of the surrounding landscape can be experienced from the centre as it is elevated above the flood level. Through its architecture, construction, exhibits and workers, the centre aims to reflect the international value of the St. Katherine Protectorate especially as it is a World Heritage Site. The centre introduces visitors to the importance of the protectorate and its contained biodiversity, cultural and natural values and shows the opportunities for nature based tourism and activities. It is also a centre for education for local people, especially school children.

Architecture
The architecture of the Visitor Centre reflects local and historical traditions – i.e. influences from Nabatean, Byzantine and Bedouin styles and techniques so that the center appears to have been part of the landscape for centuries. The buildings have been designed to blend harmoniously with the landscape so black basaltic or red or grey granite rocks used in the buildings where they occur on the site. The black lines on the walls follow dykes and fractures in the background rocks to tie the buildings into the surroundings.

Small windows have been used to reduce visual impact and so that light levels can be controlled inside for the exhibit. The architectural process was very dynamic; the buildings evolved on the site according to the micro-topography and in consultation with the exhibit designers. It is hoped that the centre will be a model for other construction within the protectorate.

Construction
The construction of the Visitor Centre is a blend of modern concrete construction and traditional stone building techniques. Great care was taken to protect the site from damage, as the site itself is beautiful and part of the interpretative exhibit. The natural rocks were covered by sand to protect them and the concrete foundations have been pinned to the rocks (floating foundations) rather than cutting the rocks – in other words the buildings have been made to fit the site rather than the other way around. Local Bedouin artisans were recruited for the stonework; this brought employment to about 40 Bedouins but also allowed them to take pride in their skills, identify with the site and give them a sense of ownership. Without the Bedouins’ skills as stone masons the centre would not have its unique architectural quality and beauty. It was, and remains, a hugely successful partnership.

Exhibit Design
The purpose of the exhibit is to inform people (visitors and locals alike) and engage them with the protectorate and its values. From the outset the exhibit has been designed to be “low tech” to reduce maintenance, which is difficult in this remote area. The panels are durable and can be touched and then wiped clean. The sound system is solid state with no moving parts so is not affected by dust.

The overall theme of the exhibit is “Origins” and each building is dedicated to a particular facet of the protectorate – thus origins and reasons for the protectorate; origins of the landscape and its contained biodiversity; origins and activities of early man in south Sinai; origins of Bedouin and their culture and finally origins and evolution of the Monastery.

Each of the exhibits is self-contained and can be visited individually. However they are designed to be visited in a particular sequence starting with the protectorate so if visitors only have a short time they at least will have a ‘take home awareness and conservation message’.

Exhibits
Reception: This exhibit introduces visitors to the protectorate as a whole, informs them of its regulations and acceptable behaviour, explains that it is a World Heritage site, and gives the story of the Visitor Centre.
Protectorate: This exhibit outlines the nature of the protectorate explains its importance and the activities of the management staff. The CD ROM is in Arabic, English, German and Italian. The map shows the main topographic features of the south Sinai, the 4 southern protectorates, sites of interest and the World Heritage Site.

Natural History: This exhibit illustrates the geological evolution of the Sinai Peninsula and explains how the unique assemblage of plant and animal species found in the protectorate came to be. As the climate became drier many species from Europe, Africa and Asia became stranded especially on the higher mountain areas. Of particular interest is the tiny Baton blue butterfly, possible the smallest butterfly in the world, which is only found on the high mountains around St. Katherine. The Sinai is also one of the world’s most important migration routes for birds. The bird songs you can hear are those of local species such as chukar, a wheatear, a warbler and migrating bee-eaters.

Archaeology: This building houses an exhibit on the importance of Sinai as a bridge for early man passing between Africa, Asia and Europe, and later for military, trade and pilgrimage routes. The exhibit shows how copper was made during the Bronze Age – about 5,000 years ago, when man originally settled in south Sinai finding copper ore in the easily mined malachite deposits. The copper objects on display are replicas of items found in Bronze Age sites within the protected area. Outside the building a replica Bronze Age house from the Sheikh Mohsen archaeological site, has been reconstructed.

Bedouins: The exhibit here briefly illustrates the origins of Bedouins in Sinai, and south Sinai in particular. The panels illustrate Gebeliya lifestyle, local use of medicinal plants, and craft production. The display shows traditional Bedouin costume from north and south Sinai and these items are part of a larger collection purchased by the south Sinai protectorates as part of an effort to conserve and record cultural traditions. The women of Fansina (a Bedouin owned and managed handicraft company established in south Sinai) have produced the contemporary crafts displayed in the case. The music being played is typical of the south Sinai Bedouins.

Monastery: This exhibit shows how the origins of the monastery can be traced back to the 3rd century and how it has evolved over time since its founding. Some of the photographs in the panels date from 1860 and are some of the earliest known photographs of the monastery. The model shows the different periods of construction, from the 4th century to the present day.