violence by design
It is impossible + negligent to discuss architecture + design without acknowledging its ongoing intentional destruction in Gaza + the West Bank. Since October, we have struggled to balance solidarity, activism, and feelings of hopelessness while remaining inspired by the things around us. No matter your opinion, one cannot ignore the total violence placed upon people, history, architecture, education, healthcare, ecology, and life itself. The ongoing genocide has brought significant loss not only to Palestinian life and culture but to a people’s entire identity- an attempted erasure, undoubtedly by design.
Beautiful, ancient structures, that hold centuries of history + meaning are instantly turned to ruins. Spaces where people pray, eat, live, learn, and love together are obliterated. While this loss is an architectural one, the lack of life that can be expressed, now and in the future, is most devastating.
For over 76 years (since the Nakba of 1948) homes, churches, schools, hospitals, museums, airports, and other cultural icons have been stoic targets for demolition. However, never before have we seen so much destruction in such a short period. Total infrastructure has been turned to rubble. A vision of the future, demolished. And yet, as they make their way to camps in the north or south, or wherever deemed falsely safe that day, they once again rebuild a life while under intense firing. We witness true resilience and true faith. Homes made in makeshift tents with so few resources- warm and inviting spaces that serve many functions.
All Palestinians are architects- constantly envisioning a future that is liberated. And while the loss remains unimaginable, the people remain steadfast- rebuilding structures, dreams, hopes, and…existence. In the eloquent words of Fannie Lou Hamer "Nobody’s free until everybody’s free".
“Humanism is the only – I would go so far as saying the final- resistance we have against the inhuman practices and injustices that disfigure human history.” — Edward W. Said
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