EXHIBITIONS

VENICE BIENNALE - the 'Co-habitats' - Arsenal - Curated by Platau (07/2021)

A collaboration with Joanne Hayek on Beirut Shifting Ground’s intervention. The project title is Pulsing grounds, it aims to offer a macro to micro reading of the emerging planning actions and actors in Beirut in order to trigger systemic change and inform future policy making.

(Credits: https://issuu.com/balsamstudio/docs/bsg_credits)

CONFERENCES

ACM SIGKDD Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (2022)

Learning from Post-Blast Beirut Humanitarian Data-Driven Mapping and Co-Planning Efforts Piloting An Agile Data-Visualization and Co-Planning Tool

Departing from a study of humanitarian data-driven mappings and responses in post-blast Beirut, this paper presents the concept and methodology behind the design of a digital co-planning tool piloted in a post-disaster context. The digital tool proposed enables cross-sector real-time data visualizations, to potentially inform agile collaborative response mechanisms. It aims to activate citizen engagement through e-participation, a concept that can be transferred to similar contexts, thus minimizing at-risk communities.

Keywords: humanitarian data-driven mappings, digital co-planning, post-disaster context, real-time data visualizations, e-participation

LINK: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4176603

6th International Conference on UrBaN E-planning - University of LisboN

CO-PLANNING THE CITY. ENGAGING ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTERACTIVE EXHIBITIONS; THE CASES OF BEIRUT VS. DUBAI

The paper explores the use of exhibitions as a medium to disseminate the knowledge on a new form of planning in an interactive way. An initial reading shows that the rapid evolution of cities requires a more agile, inclusive, and data-driven urban planning methodology.

The case of Beirut was presented at the Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2021, themed “How will we live together”, as part of the Beirut Shifting Grounds project featured within the Co-habitats exhibition. It adopts a retrospective lens through a spatial and temporal mapping of emerging actor relational networks. Data sources aggregated by the researches included open source calendars and databases as well as user inputted information through crowd sharing and mapping platforms. The data was synthesized into animated and static mappings during the Biennale in order to engage viewers into the retrospective. (Credits: https://issuu.com/balsamstudio/docs/bsg_credits)

The case of Dubai (swipe left) was presented at the 2021 Dubai Design Week as part of the D3 Architecture Exhibition themed “Dubai 2040 Masterplan”. It proposes a future-driven scenario through user-generated input on multi-sectoral urban strategies. The engagement method utilized in the exhibition was real time mapping and gamification through an application where users are able to input their preferred pedestrian trajectories in order to propose more human friendly walkability and way finding in Dubai’s urban neighborhoods. Here engagement is taken to a more interactive level. (Credits: https://issuu.com/balsamstudio/docs/dubai_stakeholders)

1st International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Spatial Methods” (SMUS Conference)

Socio-spatial research in postcolonial states: Urban and political economy perspectives (09/2021)

A collaboration with Joanne Hayek on the research topic “Towards co-producing knowledge and teaching methodologies in applied urban settings”. The paper addresses the following methodological question: A need for planning tools that can respond to the urgency and speed of change happening in the urban realm are needed for sustainable land management for peace and stability; How can GovTech be applied to help align to SDGs?

RESEARCH COMMISIONS

UN-HABITAT, GLTN, BMZ, UTI : regional capacities’ assessment on land administration. (09/2021)

The assessment is conducted regionally for several Arab countries. The report discusses the results of 'Capacity Assessment' conducted for land management and land administration in Lebanon. The assessment gives an indication of the country’s capacities in delivering good land governance by measuring its performance on the core land administration functions: land tenure, land value, land use, land development and land disputes resolution. The report was written in collaboration with Dr. Hassan El Mouelhi and Nada Jouni.

LINK: https://www.academia.edu/89121519/CAPACITY_ASSESSMENT_OF_LAND_MANAGEMENT_AND_ADMINISTRATION_IN_LEBANON?auto_accept_coauthor=true

PUBLICATIONS

Lessons from territorialization processes behind regional planning in Lebanon’s Hinterland: Scaling Up from DIY Tactics Towards a national narrative.

Architecture of the Territory: Constructing National Narratives in the Arab World; Collective for Architecture Lebanon (CAL), editorial team : Shereen Doummar, Edouard Souhaid, Elias Tamer. Publisher: Kaph Books, January 2023 

Link: https://www.collectiveforarchitecture-lb.com/architecture-of-the-territory

Departing from my thesis findings in 2016; This publication recaps on the lessons learnt from DIY practices and processes and proposes recommendations that are founded on local knowhow and actual capacities to scale towards a national narrative for Lebanon.

Processes behind regional planning in Lebanon's hinterland; The cases of the Unions of Municipalities of Jezzine and TyrProcesses behind regional planning in Lebanon's hinterland; The cases of the Unions of Municipalities of Jezzine and Tyr.

World Heritage and Contamination Le Vie dei Mercanti _ XVIII International Forum · Jun 13, 2020

The aim of this publication is to elaborate on the relationship of governance in the communitarian society of Lebanon by analyzing the planning process of two regions. This requires a thorough investigation of appropriate tools and methodological considerations which are discussed. The publication serves as a summary and overview of the author's MSc Thesis completed between the University of Stuttgart and Ain Shams in Cairo.

LINK: http://cdn.gangemieditore.com/import/materialiVari/WORLD_HERITAGE_Atti2020_NEW.pdf

Nasma; Sustainable climate-responsive schools for Syrian refugees in Lebanon. MARAS 2016: 5th International Conference on Mobile, Adaptable and Rapidly Assembled Structures

Wessex Institute Publishers · Oct 25, 2017

The paper discusses research that concerns itself with the design explorations of high performance structural and climatic systems. It also examines their efficient and low-cost application techniques in refugee facilities. Initially, the paper presents a survey of the current conditions of refugee schools in Lebanon. The survey highlights the need for alternative design strategies in the provision of environmentally friendly educational facilities with low-cost yet adequate learning conditions. Considering the current conditions, the premise is set that required design strategies call for an integrated strategic approach. This is to promote sustainable development models as post-disaster responses. The “Nasma” project is then taken as a case study that exemplifies a sustainable pilot project as a post-disaster response.

LINK: https://www.witpress.com/elibrary/cmem-volumes/5/4/1657

Slum Tourism: A Catalyst for Urban Development? Reflections from Cairo’s Ashwa’iyat (Informal Areas). In Dynamics and Resilience of Informal Areas

Springer International Publishing. · Nov 24, 2016

LINK: https://www.springerprofessional.de/en/slum-tourism-a-catalyst-for-urban-development-reflections-from-c/10098600