1st Edition

Architects Without Frontiers

By Esther Charlesworth Copyright 2006
    190 Pages
    by Routledge

    190 Pages
    by Routledge

    From the targeted demolition of Mostar’s Stari-Most Bridge in 1993 to the physical and social havoc caused by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, the history of cities is often a history of destruction and reconstruction. But what political and aesthetic criteria should guide us in the rebuilding of cities devastated by war and natural calamities?
    The title of this timely and inspiring new book, Architects Without Frontiers, points to the potential for architects to play important roles in post-war relief and reconstruction. By working “sans frontières”, Charlesworth suggests that architects and design professionals have a significant opportunity to assist peace-making and reconstruction efforts in the period immediately after conflict or disaster, when much of the housing, hospital, educational, transport, civic and business infrastructure has been destroyed or badly damaged.
    Through selected case studies, Charlesworth examines the role of architects, planners, urban designers and landscape architects in three cities following conflict - Beirut, Nicosia and Mostar - three cities where the mental and physical scars of violent conflict still remain. This book expands the traditional role of the architect from 'hero' to 'peacemaker' and discusses how design educators can stretch their wings to encompass the proliferating agendas and sites of civil unrest.

    FOREWORD; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; LINES OF CONTENTION – ZONES OF CONNECTION; ARCHITECTS AND WAR; ARCHETYPES; BEIRUT – CITY AS HEART VS. CITY AS SPINE; NICOSIA – RECONSTRUCTION AS RESOLUTION; MOSTAR – RECONSTRUCTION AS RECONCILIATION; FROM ZONES OF CONTENTION TO LINES OF CONNECTION – IMPLICATIONS FOR THE DESIGN PROFESSION; ARCHITECTS WITHOUT FRONTIERS – IMPLICATIONS FOR DESIGN EDUCATION; REFERENCES

    Biography

    Esther Charlesworth