As you have noticed, the activity on the blog as been quite low recently, which does not mean that nothing is happening. After organizing the ‘Pearls for Lebanon’ event at de Balie in Amsterdam and the release of the ‘Volume 11 - Unbuilt Cities’ issue, now our energies are focused on making the Summer Workshop in Beirut happen this August. And that’s also why our blogging effort will move to Studio Beirut’s Think Tank blog. Check it out for some fresh new posts….. and much more to come. At least i’ll try to do some live blogging (and even vlog’ing ) in the second week of the workshop.

>>> THINK TANK BLOG

Destroy Athens is the theme of the art biennial to open in Athens the coming fall (10 September -18 November 2007, www.athensbiennial.org ). ‘Destruction’ refers to a mental process of deconstructing stereotypes rather than to the actual demolition of the city’s built matter. In fact, Athens appears currently committed to leave none of its available city-lots un-built. Market forces and real estate have been unleashed and their activity is already imprinted onto a city whose ancient history and recent collectively structured memories have been either reconsidered or pushed in a state of suspense within the last ten years.

In post Olympic Athens, ancient history has stepped down from its idealised pedestal to acquire the physicality of a trace: The new acropolis museum by Tschumi, which has raised so much controversy in relation to the layers of history it disturbed, is very close to completion. The unearthed archaeological remains revealed by the metro construction works have been incorporated into metro stations. The unification of archaeological sites project integrated more or less the remains of the past with city-life and its locations have become popular meeting places.

Moreover, following the first shock and the identity crisis that the immigrant’s massive arrival in the 90s provoked to the locals, their overwhelming presence in the city centre areas was ‘finally’ accommodated and publicised as an exotic experience by the life-style magazines. The upper flat’s prizes of the centre’s existing apartment blocks have raised so much that were renovated to be inhabited by the wealthy Greeks. The basement and lower parts were assigned to immigrants and the less privileged. Buildings therefore, acquired a vertical ethnic code interpreted by many as a sign of smooth ‘multicultural’ coexistence.

Athens inhabitants were lured to rediscover and enjoy their city. A culture of pleasure has been on the rise, in which everyone was eager to leave behind national lament and the traumatic memories of the recent past. The topography of Athens as the battlefield of the December 46 civil-war events, which divided the Greeks for far too long, is but a passé topic in a society of cohabitation and consensus which is determined to invest in building activity to acquire wealth.

Disused lots or areas of the city that have become accessible due to new Olympic transportation infrastructure are currently fully exploited by real estate. Large scale private investment transform state owned land in Elaionas, Elleniko and the various Olympic venues. Malls and ‘gated urban green villages’ appear in an unplanned city development while new housing areas are built before any infrastructure (such as waste disposal) is constructed. All these are interpreted as a sign of vitality of the city and indeed they are, although for a whole set of different reasons.

As the culture of pleasure shapes the built matter of the city, the outdated public/private debate that has fallen in disuse - in favour of the deconstructive quest for the ‘in between’ hybrid sites of cultural potential - comes back with a vengeance. The desire to enjoy the city gets transformed into a demand for city appropriation. The city rights of individuals emerge as a counter action to a state that relegates its activity to private investment -being that building activity or education reform. Athens recently witnessed large scale student protest and squatting activities in an attempt to confront the experience of a deadlock situation.

As the city becomes even denser, city interaction gets intense and radicalised. In such a context, it is not accidental that the conference organised as a preamble to the Destroy Athens exhibition was entitled ‘Prayer for (passive?) Resistance’. The speakers concentrated on the relation of art and architecture to the political in contemporary conditions. It remains to be seen during the September exhibition how artist will respond to the political potentialities of a fully-built and intensively inhabited city.

© Maria Theodorou
01/05/2007
maria.theodorou[at]sarcha[dot]gr

A case study on the concept of public space in Lebanon

Initiated by Studio Beirut, Archis, Partizan Publik, Pearl and the University of Amsterdam - Center for Conflict Studies. An international multidisciplinary team of international and local students and professionals from the fields of architecture, urban development, design, sociology and political science, shall identify, analyze formally and socially, and propose interventions and new programs for the nearly infinite number of derelict or marginal spaces in Beirut. These terrains vagues, at many scales, from kilometers to centimeters, present a potential for territorial reassessment and cultural redefinition that will constitute a body of both research and action.

On the 1st of September on the Pearls in Lebanon event, results will be presented and debated. During Pearls in Lebanon a mixed audience will be brought together for discussion. The platform also gives the opportunity for project presentations of Studio Beirut and its projects to possible Lebanese cooperating partners and investors.

MORE INFO, AND APPLICATION FORM >>> STUDIOBEIRUT.ORG

It seems an eternal distinction: sometimes people build, sometimes they destroy. However, since we have a concept of modernity, we also understand that building is very often based on sheer destruction. It is ‘the price of progress’. A new insight is now emerging: much destruction also has an agenda. It has a precision that reminds us of architecture. It has a formal dimension that reminds us of design. In this issue: explore the sinister creativity of Cities Unbuilt.

The Architecture of Destruction (Editorial) – Ole Bouman

Introduction
Cultural Cleansing – Robert Bevan
Ghost Buildings – Reineke Otten
Architects Should Act! – Esther Charlesworth
To Leave and Let Live. The impact of migration and remittances on war-torn cities – Caroline Arnulf
World Bank Cities – Andrew Herscher
Maps on Reconstruction – F.A.S.T.
Frozen Memories – Gerlinde Schuller

Cahier South Caucasus
Destruction and Displacement
Introduction: Design for Displacement
Humancon Undercon – Sophia Tabatadze
Dynamics of thr South Caucasus Borders – F.A.S.T.
Barda’s Boundaries. Temporary homes and the politics of displacement –Malkit Shoshan, Christian Ernsten
Extreme Makeover. The reconstruction of post-Soviet Karabakh – Malkit Shoshan, Christian Ernsten
Photos Dirk-Jan Visser

Cahier Kosovo
Destruction and Illegal Building
Introduction
Warchitecture/Post-Warchitecture – Andrew Herscher
Invisible Architects – Florina Jerliu
Archis Interventions in Prishtina – Kai Vöckler c.s.

Cahier Lebanon
Destruction and Exclusion
Introduction: All Exclusive
City Blogging
Solidere and the Perpetual Reinvention of
Downtown Beirut – Michael Stanton
Manic Machines – Christiaan Fruneaux
Public Space Invaders – Joost Janmaat
Design With War in Mind
The Architect’s Dilemma
Photos Aukje Dekker
Pearls for Lebanon – Ole Bouman
Noise Magazine – Studio Beirut

Agenda
Violence, Destruction and International Law. An interview with Andrew Herscher – Christian Ernsten, Malkit Shoshan
Counter Convention – Andrew Herscher
UNESCO World Heritage – F.A.S.T.
Urban Imaginaries andMemories of Violence. Cape Town’s Prestwich Street – Nick Shepherd, Christian Ernsten
Lifta after Zionist Planning – Malkit Shoshan
Stateless Urbanism – Kai Vöckler
Towards Non-Destructive Aid – Niloufar Tajeri
Planning for Uncertain Cities. Towards an urban post-conflict strategy – Wilfried Hackenbroich, Thilo Fuchs, Kai Vöckler
Artists and New Urban Horizons – Chris Keulemans
Architecture Extended to Its Contrary
(Photonovela) – Christophe Catsaros

more info: Volume #11 newsletter

CASE STUDY: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 2005

click for analysis:

election2005.pdf

check for more photo’s the Pearls for Lebanon Photoset.

Or view them in this photo album: Pearls for Lebanon - bananr

The Pearls for Lebanon event will be broadcast live over internet from ‘de balie’ in Amsterdam.

The video broadcast will start 17:00, and there will be a re-run at 21:00.
The broadcasts can be watched in Quicktime, Realplayer, in the custom mediaplayer of ‘de balie’ or as audio stream in your own preferred audio player.

go to de balie live

At the right side of the screen, under ‘live uitzending’ you will find a set of links for the different types of broadcasts, select the one you prefer by clicking ’start nu’ (start broadcast).

INVITATION ‘PEARLS FOR LEBANON’

We will look beyond the devastations of the war in Lebanon last summer. Moderator Chris Keulemans, guest speaker Abdelkader Benali and several Lebanese guests are pleased to take you along a kaleidoscope of images and stories. During the evening, by way of an auction, several projects will be presented to you by the Lebanese initiators and their Dutch partners Archis, Partizan Publik and Pearl. The projects reinforce the public domain, stimulate dialogue and generate new approaches to complex urban developmental and social issues. In order to realise the projects it is essential that independent parties support them.

In the enclosed ‘project menu’ you can find a summary of the various initiatives. You can find more information at www.archis.org/unbuilt. We hope one of the projects can count on your support. Looking forward to meeting you on Tuesday March 6th. Your presence and your support are highly appreciated.

RSVP before Friday 23 February to info@pearl-foundation.com.

For additional information, please contact Nienke Nauta T +316 52 68 04 25

Programme

• 4.45 p.m. Welcome
• 5.00 p.m. Images and stories about Lebanon and Beirut With contributions by: Moderator Chris Keulemans: former director of De Balie and independent programme writer and publicist Tony Chakar: Lebanese philosopher and architect, teacher at the Académie Libanaise des Beaux Arts in Beirut. Bernard Mallat: Lebanese architect and teacher at the American University of Beirut. Author Abdelkader Benalil; resided in Lebanon during the recent war and wrote a web-log for Vrij Nederland Ole Bouman: editor in chief of Archis/Volume and the new director of the Netherlands Architecture Institute
• 6.15 p.m. Break
• 7.00 p.m. A practical answer to urgent needs: auction (please check the project menu) With contributions by: Erik Beijer: director Dutch International Guarantees for Housing Lex Pouw: CEO of housing corporation Ymere Ole Moystad: Norwegian architect, lived and worked in Beirut in the 90’s. Michael Stanton: architect and teacher at the American University of Beirut Rani Rajji, Joe Mounzer, Steve Eid, Pascale Hares, Nabil Menhem: Lebanese urban developers and architects initiators of various projects.
• 8.30 p.m. Concluding remarks

invitation and program as PDF [in Dutch]

“We need that outsider’s gaze to help us look beyond the destruction and the desperation that any war leaves behind. Your presence and concern for our situation will give a much needed push and will create hope for people like us, as we are trying to communicate this hope to those who need it the most, immediately and on a longer term.”

(Citation from the letter to Archis from the Libanese architects Rani Rajji end Joe Mounzer, Beiroet, September 2006)

Download hier de uitnoging/programma [PDF] en hier een beknopt overzicht van de projecten [PDF]

Remnants of a Greenline: The eye warms up to the invisible walls snaking along the map with rich textures. The pupil dilates flattening forgotten desolate corners of the city, where entrapped memories of warring still reside, with the rest of it. An intoxicating perfume of contradictions keeps the city and its dwellers afloat.