Seminar WiSe 2023/24
Hassan Elmouelhi

Contemporary Arab Urbanism III
Arab Public Space: Urban Gonvernance and Green Concepts - Contested

This seminar introduces current urbanization trends and challenges in the MENA/Arab region. Current urbanism in Arab countries has taken different paths. Some countries are still suffering from civil wars, others are struggling with political reforms. Meanwhile, the Gulf states are booming with many urban mega-projects that are controversial. 

Photo © Elmouelhi 2022

The seminar will discuss the geopolitical situation and urbanization processes in the MENA/Arab region, and their implications on different urban typologies. The focus will be on participation, perception and practice within the urban governance framework and the political context. Public space is a core element that represents the roles and relations between the state, citizens and other stakeholders. As “green space” it also plays a role in concepts of urban sustainability and “green tourism”. We will discuss cases from Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt and hear contributions from invited experts.

This seminar includes fully funded participation in workshops in the partner countries: Lebanon and Egypt (in 2024), in addition to Berlin (November 2023), in the framework of two international cooperation projects with Arab partner countries funded by DAAD – TAZIZ (2023-2025), and Praxispartnerschaften (2023-2026).

Download poster here.