Destruction is no longer the outcome of blind rage, but increasingly a matter of meticulous calculation. Destruction has become an alternative architecture Ole Bouman Cities Unbuilt is the first comprehensive research on the architecture of destruction. This issue offers a detailed analysis on spatial and social implications of destruction in various parts of the world and discusses issues around migration and displacement, warchitecture and post-warchitecture, counter-heritage, cultural interventions and post-conflict reconstruction strategies. While architectural records regularly hit the news with positive developments even higher towers, smarter technologies, stunning designs, and iconic buildings the general daily news is negative: man-made destruction caused by conflict and war and natural disasters make up large parts of the news content. Remarkably there is no discourse on these subjects within the global professional community of architects, yet there is a strong correlation between destruction the unbuilding of cities and the construction of buildings. In this age of realism destruction marks a dramatic proliferation of the unbuilding of cities worldwide challenging the traditional notion of architecture as the vehicle of hope and progress. Volume explores the less discussed creative sides of destruction, a realm where architecture and design play an important part. Volume shows how they are engaged in destruction, but also what options architecture has to confront these situations. Even in destruction there is hope. Three Cahiers are central to this issue Cahier South Caucasus, Cahier Kosovo and Cahier Lebanon framed by a series of introductory essays by Ole Bouman, Robert Bevan, Ester Charlesworth, Caroline Arnulf, Andrew Herscher and the concluding creative agenda with contributions by Christian Ernsten and Malkit Shoshan, Nick Shepherd and Kai Vöckler amongst others. Introduction The Architecture of Destruction (Editorial) Ole Bouman 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 the South Caucasus Borders F.A.S.T. Bardas 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: Kosovo Constructions Warchitecture/Post-Warchitecture Andrew Herscher Invisible Architects Florina Jerliu Archis Interventions in Prishtina Kai Vöckler c.s. also check the Unbuilt Prishtina blog 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 Architects Dilemma Photos Aukje Dekker Pearls for Lebanon Ole Bouman Noise Magazine Studio Beirut also check the Unbuilt Lebanon blog 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 Towns 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 W. Hackenbroich, T. Fuchs, K. Vöckler Artists and New Urban Horizons Chris Keulemans Architecture Extended to Its Contrary (Photonovela) Christophe Catsaros FACTS editor in chief Ole Bouman contributing editors Rem Koolhaas, Mark Wigley managing editor Arjen Oosterman publisher Archis Foundation format 20.9×29.5, 160 pages (no ads)