Conservation in Sanaa raises a fundamental question: what does it mean to conserve in a place where the 'historic past' is still alive? How must international agencies and consultants readjust theory and practice as they interact with the living representatives of this historic past? And what are the implications of the case of Sanaa for conservation in general? Building a World Heritage City addresses these questions, drawing on the methodologies of history, architecture, and ethnography. Based on extensive fieldwork, this book looks at conservation from the ground up - through the eyes of architects, builders, residents, and officials.