May 13–July 16, 2023
United Arab Emirates
Sharjah Architecture Triennial is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition, A Journey into Architecture Archives: Beirut, Cairo, Rabat, curated by architect George Arbid. The exhibition will open on May 13, 2023, and will highlight three institutions in the Arab world that hold and preserve architecture archives, shedding light on the rich history and contributions of architects to modern architecture.
The exhibition features archival material from the Arab Center for Architecture in Beirut (co-founded by Arbid), the Rare Books and Special Collections at the American University in Cairo and Archives du Maroc in Rabat. These institutions are committed to safeguarding the architectural legacy of the region and offer invaluable insights into its built environment through their collections.
Along with preserving the memory of completed buildings, the archives also uncover stories of designs that never came to fruition. One of the highlights of the exhibition is its focus on five unrealized projects abandoned either due to political changes, mismanagement, economic reasons or personal vagaries. Through drawings and physical models, the exhibition brings to life these designs, providing visitors with a rare opportunity to experience what could have been.
Also on view will be three documentaries commissioned specifically for the exhibition, filmed in Beirut, Cairo, Rabat and Casablanca. They will take visitors on a journey into the collections, presenting a deeper understanding of the importance of architectural archives in shaping our understanding of the past, present and future of the built environment.
“The exhibition marks the start of a long-term vision and strategy that encompass various research initiatives including the creation of a database of architecture archives in the region,”says Mona El Mousfy, the Triennial advisor. “This exhibition, and following ones focus on selected curated architecture content from the explored archives, showing drawings, photos, and models, along with short commissioned documentaries. The interconnected mapping and investigative initiatives aim to foster new areas of enquiry for scholars and students and to generate increased public interest in the archives and their role in safeguarding the architectural history of our region.”
For more information please contact the Press Office at Sharjah Architecture Triennial: T +971 50 261 4423 / Anum Laghari, anum@sharjaharchitecture.org / @sharjaharchitecture
About Sharjah Architecture Triennial: Founded in 2018, Sharjah Architecture Triennial (SAT) is a platform for architecture and urbanism in a region that extends from West Asia to South Asia and the African continent. Physically anchored in Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates, SAT aims to engage diverse audiences and stakeholders in a collective conversation on architecture at the neighbourhood, city, and regional levels. Institutional research and programming support on-going critical reflection through exhibitions, publications, and public programmes in tandem with its international editions. SAT is committed to pursuing a multi-disciplinary approach that fosters an understanding of the broader role of architecture, including its relation to social and environmental issues.
