KEYNOTE INTERVIEW: How can we rebuild in areas hit by urbicide?

Faced with the destruction of cities and infrastructure in the Middle East, what are the first steps to be taken to initiate resilient reconstruction?

The destruction of cities primarily targets infrastructure, to paralyze the operation of electricity, sewage and water networks and everyday services. But it also targets their historic monuments, to destroy the heritage and history of the people. 

In this context, the first step in building resilience is to identify the damage. Once these have been identified, we take what we call “emergency safety measures”, as many of these bombed buildings are dangerous and at risk of collapse. The rubble has to be cleared away, and the materials sorted into those that can be recycled and those that have to be disposed of completely. Sometimes a building is so fragile that it’s better to demolish it before rebuilding.

For example, at the Quayti Sultan’s Palace in Al Qatin (Yemen), where all the ceilings collapsed after bombardment in 2022, it took four months to clear the rubble, consolidate the structure, install scaffolding and stabilize the ceilings before restoration could be considered. Safety measures like this require specialized teams. The renovation work, still in progress, is based on local techniques using sun-dried mud-brick construction. Resilience is achieved by drawing on local know-how and including communities in the reconstruction process

Resilience is achieved by drawing on local know-how and including communities in the reconstruction process.

Given the urgency, is it possible to rebuild quickly while maintaining a sustainable approach?

Yes, if we rely on local resources and methods. In different regions, I’ve seen how natural materials such as earth, stone and brick can facilitate recycling and efficient reconstruction. In Siwa, Egypt, bricks made from saltwater mud are used, perfectly suited to the arid climate of the oasis. In Yemen, depending on the region, we use stone, rammed earth or mud-brick. In the High Atlas mountains of Morocco, the kasbahs are built of beaten earth, and in Algeria the same technique is used in the Ksour Range in the Sahara. These techniques are the fruit of a heritage shared through the caravan routes. These great trade routes crossed the desert, linking Arabia, North Africa and Egypt, and enabled the circulation of goods while also spreading ideas and architectural know-how.

The right solution for sustainable construction is always to start with the region, its resources, its know-how and its environment, which also needs to be entirely rebuilt.

Can traditional techniques interact with modern innovations?

Yes, this is already happening. As early as the 1950s-1960s in Iraq, modern architects were incorporating local materials, vernacular know-how and contemporary design into their projects. Today, innovations such as 3D mud-brick printing are opening up new perspectives, but the essential thing remains the accumulated intelligence regarding construction techniques: thick walls, natural ventilation (windcatchers), interior courtyards, etc. In the field, we pass on these techniques in workshops, sometimes even to experienced architects. It’s this blend of tradition and modernity that makes it possible to innovate while preserving efficiency and sustainability.

Today, innovations such as 3D mud-brick printing are opening up new perspectives.

Can reconstruction be envisaged without taking the surrounding environment into account?

No, because it’s not just lives and towns that are destroyed in war zones, it is also the environment. Farms, agricultural land, parks and gardens are wiped out. We work with landscape architects to regenerate the soil, as in Shibam in Yemen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nicknamed the “Manhattan of the desert”, the city’s buildings are several floors high, thanks to the mastery of mud-brick building techniques. But they couldn’t exist without irrigation of the surrounding farmland, which feeds the population and stabilizes the local economy. I’ve seen in Beirut what happens when the environment is forgotten: the disappearance of green spaces in favor of real estate speculation has turned the urban climate into a nightmare. Wherever we work, we have to listen to the needs of the environment in order to rebuild a sustainable life for people and nature alike. Architecture on its own is not viable or livable if the surrounding environment does not follow

Architecture on its own is not viable or livable if the surrounding environment does not follow.

What is the role of the local people in these rehabilitation processes?

Construction is a continuous process, especially when working with the environment. Nothing is put on hold: training residents in local techniques and recycling existing materials is often quicker and more effective than importing industrial solutions. With the Earth Architecture Lab, a London-based foundation I set up in 2021, we’re training young architects to pass on these skills, because tradition then becomes a real force for rebuilding, even in emergency situations. In Somalia, for example, we are developing shelters for displaced persons on arid land. These camps are supposed to be temporary, but often remain in use for years: so we need to go beyond tents and offer suitable, dignified accommodation. In this place, there are no sewers, no access to water and no farming. Our first step is thus to study how to revive agriculture: any land can be cultivated if water is made available. Our teams work in parallel on water, culture, sanitation and the design of habitats according to local traditions. It is this global approach, centered on training and adaptation to the context, that enables sustainable, rapid and appropriate reconstruction.

Training residents in local techniques and recycling existing materials is often quicker and more effective than importing industrial solutions.

You are on the jury for the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture^TM. Why did you choose to become associated with this award?

The Global Award for Sustainable Architecture™ is a resourceful community, both rich and diverse. It’s an essential springboard for committed architects with innovative, real-life solutions. It enables sharing of practical experience and sustainable approaches adapted to each context. For me, it’s also an opportunity to showcase little-known practices that stem from both tradition and innovation.

Also read :

The 5 Laureates of the 2025 Global Award for Sustainable Architecture™

Global Award for Sustainable Architecture™Should architecture undergo a revolution?

To Go Further :

Architects’ perspectives on sustainable construction