PEARLS FOR LEBANON: The Netherlands is stimulating the dialogue in and with Lebanon

Dutch architects, artists, town councils, housing corporations and companies are dedicated to stimulate the dialogue in and with Lebanon, to reinforce public space in Lebanon, and to look for new answers regarding society and urban development. During ‘Pearls for Lebanon’ on March 6th, Dutch partners sign in on the plans for projects that range from a computer class room to a competition for the reconstruction of South Beirut, from a bus stacked with playground equipment to a new ferry connection along coastal towns

On March 5, 6 and 7, at the invitation of the Dutch organisations Pearl, Archis and Partizan Publik, nine Lebanese (landscape)architects, urban developers, (visual) artists and writers are staying in Amsterdam. During ‘Pearls for Lebanon’ at De Balie in Amsterdam they will talk about the current situation in Lebanon. They are dedicated to reinforce the public space in Lebanon, to stimulate a national and international dialogue and to look for new answers regarding urban development and society. During this evening the initiators and their partners Archis, Partizan Publik and Pearl, link government ,business and creative communities in the Netherlands to the plans that are developed in Lebanon at the moment.

One of the plans is setting up a cultural centre ‘Studio Beirut’ which is to be a meeting place; a platform for debate and dialogue and an exhibition space. Studio Beirut will house a think tank boosting the discussion about housing and society and the role and responsibility of design and urban planning in the development of future Lebanon. Studio Beirut will host an international architectural competition aimed at an actual assignment. Next to this Studio Beirut will publish several media, such as a website and a magazine. Studio Beirut also has a travelling component: Bus 'The public space will come to you'.

A north to south ferry line is to connect the coastline where most roads are damaged. And in the south of Lebanon, where a lot has been destroyed last summer, one is trying to build computer class rooms, playgrounds, and parks.

Pearls for Lebanon is a follow-up of ‘Lebanon Unbuilt’ which took place from 15 November until 19 November 2006 in Lebanon. Lebanon Unbuilt was an expert platform about the redevelopment of Lebanon and the role and meaning of the public domain.

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For more information please contact Nienke Nauta: + 31652680425 or e-mail to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

The following persons contribute to the programme ‘Pearls for Lebanon and are available for interviews:
From Lebanon:
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.
Michael Stanton: architect in Beirut and New Orleans
Rani Rajji,  Joe Mounzer, Steve Eid, Pascale Hares, Nabil Menhem, Maha Mougnieh: Lebanese urban developers and architects initiators of various projects. 

From Norway:

Ole Moystad: Norwegian architect lived and worked in Beirut in the 90’s.

From the Netherlands:
Author Abdelkader Benalil; resided in Lebanon during the recent war and wrote a web-log for Vrij Nederland
Ole Bouman: editor in chief Archis/Volume and the new director of the Netherlands Architecture Institute
Chris Keulemans: former director of De Balie and independent programme writer and publicist
Erik Beijer: director Dutch International Guarantees for Housing
Lex Pouw: head of the board of directors of housing corporation Ymere

About Archis, Partizan Publik en Pearl:
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 a foundation which was set up during the recent war 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 a 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.