Coastal Complicity and Tides of Resistance:

by Roula el khoury & Leyla el sayed hussein October 16, 2024

written by Roula el khoury & Leyla el sayed hussein October 16, 2024

Authors’ disclaimer: Executive issued the invitation for this expert contribution on the publicness of coastal spaces one month before the expansion of the Israeli war on Lebanon in September 2024. We, the authors, completed the contribution at the highly troubled time when a maritime blockade by Israeli warships became a threat against Lebanese coast from the southern shoreline to points in Beirut and further north. In this sense, we are now confronted with the new, conflicted image of the sea – the hostile staging ground for Israeli battleships – and the coast that serves as refuge for thousands of people who are sheltering on the scarce public space of Beirut’s urban shore after they have fled from their homes. As one of the last bastions of public space along Beirut’s coastline, the corniche of Ein el Mrayseh stands as a vital outlet for diverse communities in a city increasingly

Beirut Refugees war 2024

Roula el khoury

Roula El Khoury is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the Lebanese American University, holding a Master’s in Urban Planning from Harvard University’s GSD and a bachelor’s in architecture with a Minor in Political Sciences from the American University of Beirut. Her research focuses on the material manifestation of global influences in the Middle East, the representation of capital in urban settings, and alternative public spaces. Roula runs every morning along the water, blending her interest in the city with her passion for Beirut, capturing its unique beauty through photography and exploring the stories it has to offer.

Leyla el sayed hussein

Leyla El Sayed Hussein is an architect, researcher and writer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture with a minor in Arabic Literature from the American University of Beirut, and a Master’s in Architecture with a focus on Digital Theory from The Bartlett - University College London. Her research falls at the intersection of architectural narratives and the boom of the digital age. She is currently an assistant professor of practice at LAU, Lebanon.

Coastal Complicity and Tides of Resistance:

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