Who shapes the built environment in Palestinian refugee camps? What phases and transformations have these environments gone through? How did a fabric tent evolve into a multi-story house? How have Palestinian refugees adapted to these changes over time? Have they regained the spatial agency within the camps? And what role should architects play in this context, professionally, ethically, and socially?

In this talk, Anas Al-Khatib, a researcher specializing in architecture and urbanism in Palestine and the Arab world, will share his perspective as both a refugee who grew up in a camp and as an architect focused on heritage preservation and restoration. He will explore the distinct urban histories of refugee camps, with particular attention to those in Bethlehem, tracing their evolution and the lived experiences within them.

In 2021, Anas co-founded Architect in Camps, an initiative aimed at rethinking architectural practice to address the specific needs of refugee camps. Alongside a team of young architects, the initiative seeks to build a framework that combines practical strategies with theoretical insights, tailored to the complexities of camp life. The group provides architectural services and consultations to camp residents pertaining to basic needs, relying on critical thinking and architectural documentation of oral histories and the built environment. This approach enables them to shape a practice that is both mature and sensitive to the intricate dynamics of camp communities.

The talk is in Arabic.

Anas Al-Khatib is a Palestinian refugee, architect, and artist originally from the village of Beit ‘Itab in the Jerusalem district, now residing in Dheisheh Refugee Camp in Bethlehem. Anas co-founded Architect in Camps with a group of architects, artists, and craftsmen. He recently completed his master’s degree from the Center for Human Rights and the Arts at Bard College in New York and holds a bachelor's degree in architecture from Birzeit University, with a focus on theories of conservation and the restoration of heritage and historic buildings, earned in 2021. His architectural practice is rooted in marginalized spaces, addressing issues of displacement, migration, infrastructure, and environmental studies.

Image: Madaba Palestinian Refugee Camp, August 2022, Architect in Camps.