Sandra Frem; Boulos Douaihy

Beirut Shifting Grounds è un progetto di ricerca durato più di due anni, un periodo in cui Beirut ha attraversato grandi cambiamenti a un ritmo senza precedenti con il crollo della sua economia, la svalutazione della moneta nazionale, la pandemia da Covid-19 e, infine, la devastante esplosione al porto, una delle più violente esplosioni non nucleari mai registrate, che il 4 agosto 2020 ha dilaniato la città. Di fronte a queste avversità, il periodo è stato definito da un’ondata di attivismo, di auto-organizzazione collettiva, e da una mobilitazione dal basso mai vista prima nella storia moderna del paese. In tale contesto, il progetto esamina “come vivremo insieme” mettendo in primo piano le pratiche spaziali partite dal basso nella città di Beirut che consentono alle persone di adattarsi all’incertezza e al cambiamento. Attraverso quattro narrazioni parallele, questa installazione si focalizza sulle manifestazioni di improvvisazione, recupero e produzione che offrono possibili lezioni di adattamento e solidarietà per il futuro incerto.

Image 1 – How will we live together?
Grounds of Production. After the port blast in Beirut, the reconstruction process in destroyed neighborhoods showed first and foremost the potential of people, activists, collectives, and civil society groups in the bottom-up production of the city in response to people’s needs. We speculate on different ways of inhabiting and reclaiming Beirut that depart from such collective energies and engage ground realities. Vacant lots, structures, and existing open spaces become available for collective appropriation. Overlaid by essential infrastructure outlets—water, electricity, data— that come from neighborhood-harnessed renewable energies, the ground becomes equipped to support collective activities and exchanges, like communal kitchens, markets, temporary gatherings, and occupation. Such outlets can be customized, relocated, and adjusted as needed, objects of negotiation between the different collectives using it, not unlike the revolution and post-blast collective deployments.

Image 2 – Sneak peek of the project
Beirut Shifting Grounds. We foreground positive practices at the ground level of Beirut that allow people to adapt through shifting conditions and uncertain futures. Improvisation, reclamation, and production are three practices explored each at a specific scale/lens. The fourth lens present visual and physical installations as public practices that poke internalized ground conditions.

ArD | Department of Architecture and Design, American University of Beirut (AUB)
MSFEA | Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, AUB

Platau: Sandra Frem, Boulos Douaihy

American University of Beirut (AUB): Carla Aramouny, Rana Haddad, Nicolas Fayad
Collaboratori: Nayla Al Ak, Ahmad Nouraldeen, Joanne Hayek, Joanne Harik (Rice University)

Team di produzione: Yara Abdallah, Nour Abdel Baki, Salameh Abla, Rabih Arasoghli, Yasmine Atoui, Ghinwa Azzi, Michelle Azzi, Nour Balshi, Mia Baraka, Taha Barazy, Lama Barhoumi, Christina Battikha, Mariana Boughaba, Joseph Chalhoub, Annabelle Chebat, Dina Chehab, Araz Demerdjian, Gina Ghaoui, Souraya Hammoud, Yara Haidar, Joanna Howayek, Ismail Hutet, Lynne Khater, Tara Kanj, Karen Madi, Thea Maria Maroun, Carmen Matta, Careen Matta, Nathalie Mounzer, Mohammad Nahle, Rayanne Njeim, Yasmine Saad, Clara Saade, Lama Salameh, Tala Salman, Hala Stouhi, Lea Tabaja, Sarah Tannir, Nicol Yamin, Hussein Zaarour, Maya Ziade

Featured Projects:

PIIIISSSST, 2018 Rana Haddad, Pascal Hachem

In Between, AUB. 2016
Studenti: Mira Al Jawahiry, Luzan Al Munayer, Mia Baraka, Ibrahim Kombarji, Shada Mustafa
Insegnamento congiunto: Rana Haddad e Joanne Hayek

Corniche Extended, AUB. 2012
Studenti: Jalal Makarem, Farah Harake, Marianne Safi, Mustafa Chehab, Rami Saab
Insegnamento congiunto: RanaRana Haddad, Carole Levesque, Sandra Richani

Crates’ Play, 2018
Studenti: Mohamad Chami, Tala Salman, Taha Barazy, Andrea Chaanine

Moving Monument, 2018
Studenti: Amina Kassem, Sari El Kantari, Elie Geha, Tamara Salloum

Let’s Park, 2018
Studenti: Nicolas Abou Haidar, Soraya Hammoud, Nicol Yamin, Lina Akkaoui, Carl Yammine

6.5 m Beach Cart, 2018
Studenti: Nicolas Abou Haidar, Soraya Hammoud, Nicol Yamin, Lina Akkaoui, Carl Yammine
Insegnamento congiunto: RanaRana Haddad e Pascal Hachem, AUB

“Stop Pushing Us Away”, AUB. 2019
Studenti: Abdo Kanachat
Studio co-taught by Rana Haddad e Pascal Hachem

1 Acte / 2 Pieces, 2001
Rana Haddad e Pierre Hage-Boutros
In collaborazione con the Atelier de Recherche, ALBA

Radio Silence, 2016
Rana Haddad e Joanne Hayek

Basket Ball Net, AUB. 2018
Studenti: Mohamad Chami, Tala Salman, Taha Barazy, Andrea Chaanine
Insegnamento congiunto: RanaRana Haddad e Pascal Hachem

Air Rights, AUB. 2012
Studenti: Youssef Ibrahim, Jana Aridi, Loulwa Achkar, Thea Hallak, Micheline Nahra
Insegnamento congiunto: RanaRana Haddad, Carole Levesque, Sandra Richani

[In]Contemplation, AUB. 2019
Studenti: Abdo Khanachat Yara Kamali, Lina Badda, Ralph Karam, Jamie Lau, Sama Beydoun
Insegnamento congiunto: RanaRana Haddad e Pascal Hachem

Nature’s Calling, AUB. 2012
Studenti: Tracey Eid, Lamia Dabaghi, Hala Tawil, Mira Moussa, Sara Batal
Insegnamento congiunto: RanaRana Haddad, Carole Levesque, Sandra Richani

Crediti video e fotografici: Ali Chehade, Wissam Chaaya, Louay Kabalan, Joanne Hayek, Rana Haddad

Ringraziamenti: Archives e Special Collection Department, Jafet Library - American University of Beirut, Sursock Museum Library e Archive, Arab Image Foundation, Beirut Urban Lab, Emerge Beirut, Antoine Atallah, Rawan Bazergi, Michael e May Davie, Fadi Ghazzaoui, Balsam Madi, Camille Tarazi, Serge Yazigi