Amsterdam/Beirut, 16 November 2006

UNBUILT: A PLATFORM OF EXPERTS ON THE RECONSTRUCTION OF LEBANON
Architects emphasize the necessity of restoring the public domain and cultural heritage

On invitation of several Lebanese architects and the Dutch organisations Archis, Partizan Publik and Pearl Foundation, expert meetings are organised in Lebanon about the reconstruction and the restoration of the public domain in Lebanon. The expert meetings take place from Thursday 16 November until Saturday 18 November. The immediate cause is the concern of Lebanese architects that - after the extensive devastation by the bombings last summer – the reconstruction is causing even more damage to the cultural heritage. Furthermore, they are concerned about the fact that little attention is paid to the tensions in the fragile and fragmented of Lebanese society. More attention for restoring the public domain can make a necessary contribution to rebuilding a balanced society.

During the meetings an international group of architects, visual artists, urban developers and journalists will strike up a conversation with each other and with inhabitants and representatives of local authorities. The participants analyze the situation on the spot and they will form collectively a clear view of the function of the public domain and the moulding of the reconstruction. In their recommendations they will pay attention to the following themes: Heritage & History; Memory & Identity; Community Building & the Public Domain as a meeting place; Safety & Security; Beauty & Aesthetics.

On Saturday 18 November, the first outcomes of ‘Lebanon Unbuilt’ will be presented – chaired by Ole Bouman (director of Archis and editor in chief of Volume) – in Beirut, in the presence of several people involved in the reconstruction and a representative of the Dutch embassy in Lebanon.

During the journey the participants make an inventory of actual projects with regard to restoring the public domain and the intercultural dialogue which will be realised in a follow-up in 2007. In the second half of January 2007 the results will be presented at De Balie in Amsterdam.

Participants are, among others:
Michael Stanton, Ole Moystad, Tony Chakar, Mona Fawaz, Howyda Harithy,
Georges Zuwain, Habib Debs, Afif Bazzi, Patricia Bijvoet en Chris Keulemans,
and the Dutch initiators: Archis: Lilet Breddels en Ole Bouman, Partizan Publik: Joost Janmaat en
Christiaan Fruneaux, Pearl: Nienke Nauta.

Archis Foundation is a cultural think tank devoted to the process of real-time spatial and cultural reflexivity.  Archis Foundation is publishing VOLUME Magazine a project by Archis, AMO, the office of Rem Koolhaas and C-Lab , the architectural laboratory of Columbia University; organises international events that initiate interdisciplinary debate on spatial and cultural issues; advises governmental organisations and private companies on a variety of urban and spatial issues.

See also www.archis.org



Partizan Publik is a think and action tank devoted to a braver society. The Partizans explore, produce and implement social, political and cultural instruments, which generate positive and sustainable change to people and their surroundings. As such we take part in the complex and continuous process of global social engineering by implementing capacity building projects, instigating social research, producing journalistic accounts and organizing public events. See also www.partizanpublik.nl

Pearl is founded after the recent war. Pearl's objective is to support the Lebanese to recover after the war. Pearl has contact with Lebanese people in order to establish what needs to be done. The ideas and initiatives are realised together with people in Lebanon. Pearl supports the restoration of public services and the realisation of cultural activities.
Furthermore, Pearl aims to stimulate intercultural understanding by bringing people together and to encourage an intercultural dialogue. Pearl would like to emphasize the importance of throwing light on people's daily lives as countries that are hit by disaster often are depicted in a one-sided manner by the media. See also www.pearl-foundation.com

For more information and photographs you can contact:
Linda van Maaren (press co-ordinator): T +31611378229