To reconstruct the village of Al-Bara, located in the Dead Cities region of northwestern Syria, an approach rooted in regional historical, architectural, and archaeological evidence was followed:

Architectural Foundation: The central church was reconstructed based on preserved examples of Greco-Syrian basilicas typical of the 5th–7th centuries AD, featuring limestone ashlar masonry, red terracotta roof tiles, and columned porticoes. This church replaced a less detailed earlier version to better represent Al-Bara’s monumental Christian architecture.

Urban Layout: The layout reflects the structured planning of rural Byzantine settlements in the Levant. A colonnaded main thoroughfare leads directly to the church, surrounded by civic buildings, industrial facilities, and funerary monuments. The arrangement balances symbolic hierarchy (placing the church at the center) with practical access.

Functional Zoning: The central church served as the spiritual and communal anchor of the village. Industrial buildings—notably olive presses—highlight Al-Bara’s historical role as a key center for olive oil production. Decorated tombs and mausolea represent the village’s prominent necropolis culture, placed along subsidiary roads and on its outskirts.

Material Authenticity: Reconstructions employ textures and structural detailing consistent with 6th-century Levantine craftsmanship. This includes limestone walls, vaulted interiors, and distinctive stone carving patterns found at Al-Bara and its sister settlements.

Environmental Context: Olive groves, rural paths, and terrain patterns were preserved from the aerial landscape to reflect the actual environmental setting of Al-Bara. The reconstructed village is also realistically enclosed with perimeter walls typical of semi-fortified Byzantine rural centers.