Arab Modern: Architecture and the Project of Independence

Despite growing calls for global architectural histories, the historiography of modern architecture remains depicted predominantly by Western figures, narratives, and experiences. This book takes a different approach by uncovering previously overlooked histories and contributions that shaped the Arab world’s modern built environment. Contributions consider projects from North Africa, the Levant, and the Arabian Gulf during a critical moment in history when several Arab countries were on the cusp of gaining their independence from colonial rule and were entering a new phase of postcolonial nation-building. The travel of ideas and figures from within and outside the architectural profession – including craftspeople, bureaucrats, and residents – demonstrates the multifaceted international and regional exchanges underpinning architectural creations and imaginaries in the wake of independence.

2024. 14.5 × 22.5 cm, softcover
ca. 220 pages, ca. 50 illustrations
ISBN 978-3-85676-466-1
Text in English

Abusaada, Nadi, and Wesam Al Asali, eds. Arab Modern: Architecture and the Project of Independence. Zurich: gta Verlag, 2024.