The Land Remembers (box set)
Overview
Official catalog of the National Pavilion of Lebanon at the 19th Biennale of Architecture in Venice.
Official catalog of the National Pavilion of Lebanon at the 19th Venice biennale of Architecture, The Land Remembers invites us to explore alternative ways of healing and preserving the natural environment by harnessing local knowledge and the land intelligence. The content of this catalog confronts the deliberate destruction of Lebanon’s ecosystems and societies, drawing on the soil’s memory as a testament to resilience and renewal. The format of the memory box is an archive of the land’s richness, challenges, and potential, asking: How can we heal the land to build for future generations?
The catalog combines expert analysis, personal stories, and diverse perspectives on destruction, regeneration, and coexistence. From ecological restoration to regenerative architecture and preservation of Lebanon’s biodiversity, it underscores the urgent need for a symbiotic relationship between people and nature. By counter-mapping environmental destruction, reflecting on modern warfare’s impacts, and embracing innovative solutions, this collective work envisions a legacy for future generations—one rooted in resilience, learning, and hope.
Edited by Collective for Architecture Lebanon (CAL)
About the Authors
Rhea Kahale
Rhea Kahale is an expert in Biodiversity Conservation and Management, holding a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from Saint Joseph University of Beirut. Since 2016, she has managed several projects related to biodiversity conservation, focusing on prioritization schemes for conservation decisions, including species preservation, establishing protected areas, maintaining genetic diversity, and addressing specific threats. Her work with Saint Joseph University, a leading higher education institution, and Jouzour Loubnan, a non-governmental organization focused on ecological restoration, has been instrumental in integrating science-based evidence into conservation planning. Jouzour Loubnan is dedicated to restoring Lebanese woodlands and agricultural lands through sustainable reforestation and agroforestry practices. As a researcher with Jouzour Loubnan, Rhea plays a pivotal role in designing reforestation strategies that promote biodiversity and ecosystem resilience while ensuring the sustainable use of land resources. Her research focuses on bridging the gap between ecological restoration practices and scientific methodologies, ensuring the long-term success of conservation initiatives.
Magda Bou Dagher Kharrat
Magda Bou Dagher Kharrat, a researcher in forest and biodiversity conservation, holds a Ph.D. in Plant Genetics from Sorbonne University - Pierre and Marie Curie (2001) and a Habilitation to Supervise Research in Biodiversity Conservation from the University Paris XI (2015). She began her academic career in 2001 as a researcher and lecturer at Saint Joseph University of Beirut, where she chaired the Life and Earth Sciences Department from 2012 to 2017. Magda established the university's Plant Genetic Characterization Laboratory in 2002 and its Seed Conservation and Germination Laboratory in 2009, focusing on conserving endemic species and creating protected areas for endangered plants. Magda co-founded the NGO Jouzour Loubnan, dedicated to rehabilitating degraded Mediterranean forest ecosystems. In 2008, Magda co-founded Jouzour Loubnan, a pioneering Lebanese NGO dedicated to forest ecosystem restoration. Jouzour Loubnan’s mission is to restore Lebanese woodlands and agricultural lands through the implementation of sustainable reforestation and agroforestry practices. Under her leadership, the NGO has made significant strides in rehabilitating degraded landscapes and promoting environmental sustainability in Lebanon. In 2022, she joined the European Forest Institute as Principal Researcher and Team Leader for the Mediterranean Facility in Barcelona, where she develops conservation policies and restoration strategies for forest ecosystems in Europe and the Mediterranean to address climate change challenges. A member of several high-profile scientific advisory boards, Magda serves on the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund for the Mediterranean (CEPF Med), the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, and the Advisory Board of the European Biodiversity Partnership Biodiversa+. She is also part of the steering committee of the International Barcode of Life Consortium (iBOL). Since 2019, Magda has been a National Geographic Explorer. Her accomplishments have been widely recognized: she received the UNESCO-L'Oréal "For Women in Science" grant in 2008, was named a Knight of the Order of Academic Palms by the French Republic in 2021, and was elected a Corresponding Member of the French Academy of Agriculture in 2023.
Karim Emile Bitar
Karim-Emile Bitar is a lecturer in Middle East studies at Sciences Po Paris and a Professor of International Relations at Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), where he also directs the Institute of Political Science. He lectures in Geopolitics and Diplomacy at ENS-Lyon and is a Senior Fellow at IRIS and an Associate Fellow at GCSP. He directs the Arab Master in Democracy and Human Rights (Venice), edits L’ENA hors les murs, co-founded Kulluna Irada, and serves as Secretary General of the Emile Bitar Foundation. He also initiated the Beirut Human Rights Week and co-organizes the International Feminisms Festival.
Dr. Rami Zurayk
Dr. Rami Zurayk is a Professor of Ecosystem Management at the American University of Beirut and served as Interim Director of the Palestine Land Studies Center (2022-2024), leading the Fighting Erasure initiative. He advises Lebanon’s National Convener for Food Systems and has contributed extensively to research on Arab food security, land use, and sustainable agriculture, with a focus on Palestine and Gaza. He was the lead researcher on the UN-HABITAT program on Land and Conflict in the Arab Region and is a founding member of the Arab Food Sovereignty Network.
Mohamed Choucair
Mohamed Choucair is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in film, audio, and performance. Beirut-born and Milan-based, his work reflects an ever-evolving artistic impression. He co-founded the Ballroom Blitz, overseeing curation and creative direction. Performing under various monikers, including Bakisa and jackthefish, he has worked with Boiler Room and Mixmag. His projects, including Air Pressure by Lawrence Abu Hamdan, have toured museums like MoMA and Pompidou. Moe also writes and edits for the Ballroom Express, curates for Ma3azef and Radio AlHara, and produces the artPost21 Podcast. He is a resident artist at Radio Raheem and a freelance audiovisual consultant.
Adib Dada
Adib Dada is an environmental activist and architect who founded theOtherDada [tOD] Regenerative Consultancy & Architecture in 2010. His initiative, theOtherForest, focuses on rewilding cities through Miyawaki forests, reclaiming over 4,000 square meters of land with 15,500 native trees. Adib has been featured in Growing Back Beirut and lectures at institutions like Cambridge University and SxSW eco. He has received the McNulty Foundation Impact Grant and iF Social Impact Prize. Adib holds degrees from AUB, NYU, and certifications in biomimicry and ecosystem restoration
Sarah Sinno
Sarah Sinno, born in 1989 in Beirut, Lebanon, is an environmental advocate, researcher, and founder of the Earth Preservation Project, dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues through an anti-colonial and anti-capitalist lens. Her work focuses on the intersection of environmentalism, justice, and decolonization. Upon returning to Lebanon, she was deeply impacted by the devastation of its natural resources and took action, starting with rescuing stray animals. Through the Earth Preservation Project, she organizes workshops, publishes articles, and is working on a short film about southern Lebanese communities' relationship with their land.
Shereen Doummar
Shereen Doummar is a practicing architect currently based in London. She is the director of ATMA heading several projects in the Ivory Coast, the UK and Lebanon. She is a graduate of the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and the laureate of the Renzo Piano Building Workshop bursary. She previously worked with the UK based firms Studio Jenny Jones, REAL Foundation, Zaha Hadid Architects, and REX in New York. She has been exhibited at the Beit Beirut Museum, and has spoken at various conferences, at Edinburgh University, AA School, ALBA, and at the American University of Beirut.
Elias Tamer
Elias Tamer is an Architect currently based between London and Beirut. He has received Diploma Commendation the Honours Nomination from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London. He previously worked at Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in New York, Michaelis Boyd and Heatherwick Studio in London as well as on several projects in Beirut. His work has been exhibited at Omran’19 and published in Real Review. He is now working at ATMA.
Edouard Souhaid
Edouard Souhaid is a Lebanese artist and architect based in Paris since 2015. He holds a degree from the École Spéciale d’Architecture (ESA) and a Master 2 from the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de la Villette (ENSA-LV), with a focus on advanced research in the social sciences, further enriching his multidisciplinary practice. Edouard’s abstract artwork has been exhibited in prominent venues, including the Beit Beirut Museum, as well as exhibitions in Ho Chi Minh City and Paris. He has also shared his research and expertise at conferences held at the American University of Beirut, the Musée cantonal de design et d’art appliqués contemporain (MUDAC) in Lausanne, and the European Union Parliament in Brussels.
Lynn Chamoun
Lynn Chamoun is a product and jewelry designer, Founder of Lynn Chamoun Design, her interior design studio as well Lynsh Fine Jewlery. Her collections are currently sold in Beirut, London, New York and Dubai. She is a graduate of Florence Design Academy as an industrial designer and worked in various design fields before starting Lynsh.
Abir Saksouk
Abir Saksouk graduated as an architect in 2005, and later did her masters in Urban Development Planning. She is the co-founder of Public Works Studio. Her primary focus includes urbanism and law, property and shared space, and the right to the city of marginalized communities. She is active in exploring how local organizing could be employed in actively shaping the future of cities. Abir is also a member of the Legal Agenda and a co-founder of Dictaphone Group.
Nadine Bekdache
Nadine Bekdache is a practicing designer and urbanist, and co-founder of Public Works Studio. She researches socio-spatial phenomena through multidisciplinary methods; including mapping, imagery and film as both processes of investigation and representation. As part of her research on urban displacement, she authored “Evicting Sovereignty: Lebanon’s Housing Tenants from Citizens to Obstacles”, and co-directed “Beyhum Street: Mapping Place Narratives”. Nadine is also a graphic design instructor at the Lebanese University.
Technical Details
- Publication Date:
- Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Language:
- English & Arabic
- Format:
- Softcover
- Dimensions:
- 32 x 22 cm
- Weight:
- 0.5 kg
- ISBN:
- 978-614-8035-95-1
- Publisher:
- Kaph Books