AMASyria (Archive of Modern Architecture in Syria) is an initiative to research, document, and share the Syrian architectural experience of the 20th century and discuss it within its historical context as part of the broader cultural landscape in the region and the world while highlighting its intersection with political, economic, and artistic spheres.
The architectural scene in Syria underwent a profound transformation around the turn of the twentieth century, marked by the emergence of modern thought against a backdrop of shifting political and social dynamics, most notable in the rise of a national identity that accompanied the end of the Ottoman period. This transformation came parallel to the urban expansion of Syrian cities away from their historical cores, causing the surfacing of novel urban functions that brought forth new architectural typologies, materials, and construction methods, which would shape the architectural practice and the urban settings of Syrian cities.
The production of modernity in Syria and the region was rarely examined in the global historical modernist discourse. This neglect (or disinterest) has left a gap in the local and global understanding of the region's modern histories, halting knowledge production and critical analysis. The result is that despite the urgent and increasing demand to deconstruct the long-prevailing Euro-centric narrative and build a local alternative, efforts to do so are often hindered by the absence of local data repositories that can serve as a foundation upon which such local narratives can be built.
AMASyria is an attempt to bridge this knowledge gap. It is an initiative founded on the belief in the public's right to access knowledge, and on prioritizing local perspectives from Syria and the region in the telling of its history. Therefore, we aim to establish an accessible and inclusive archive that challenges the monopoly of institutional archives, promoting a collective effort in writing history and steering the regional discourse.
AMASyria provides audiences with an easy-to-reach bilingual (English and Arabic) digital platform showcasing the architectural experience of 20th-century Syria, depicted through architectural, urban, and artistic projects designed in Syria or by Syrian architects, as well as the lives and stories of generations of architectural pioneers, and the various institutions that played a part in shaping the architectural practice and urban scene. The archive includes architectural documents and drawings, photographs both old and recent, competition booklets, sketches, official project descriptions, and oral histories as told by architects or their families and acquaintances.
Our open digital archive allows the sharing and circulation of data, contributing to a larger ecosystem that seeks to foster collective knowledge through partnerships and collaborations that transcend geographical constraints. It represents an open call for scholars, institutions, and, above all, the public, to critically analyze and contextualize this knowledge and offer continuous feedback and assessment, for we believe that this collective effort and continued open dialogue are the first crucial steps towards steering the future of the architectural practice and shaping the urban reality of our cities.
AMASyria (Archive of Modern Architecture in Syria) is an initiative to research, document, and share the Syrian architectural experience of the 20th century and discuss it within its historical context as part of the broader cultural landscape in the region and the world while highlighting its intersection with political, economic, and artistic spheres.
The architectural scene in Syria underwent a profound transformation around the turn of the twentieth century, marked by the emergence of modern thought against a backdrop of shifting political and social dynamics, most notable in the rise of a national identity that accompanied the end of the Ottoman period. This transformation came parallel to the urban expansion of Syrian cities away from their historical cores, causing the surfacing of novel urban functions that brought forth new architectural typologies, materials, and construction methods, which would shape the architectural practice and the urban settings of Syrian cities.
The production of modernity in Syria and the region was rarely examined in the global historical modernist discourse. This neglect (or disinterest) has left a gap in the local and global understanding of the region's modern histories, halting knowledge production and critical analysis. The result is that despite the urgent and increasing demand to deconstruct the long-prevailing Euro-centric narrative and build a local alternative, efforts to do so are often hindered by the absence of local data repositories that can serve as a foundation upon which such local narratives can be built.
AMASyria is an attempt to bridge this knowledge gap. It is an initiative founded on the belief in the public's right to access knowledge, and on prioritizing local perspectives from Syria and the region in the telling of its history. Therefore, we aim to establish an accessible and inclusive archive that challenges the monopoly of institutional archives, promoting a collective effort in writing history and steering the regional discourse.
AMASyria provides audiences with an easy-to-reach bilingual (English and Arabic) digital platform showcasing the architectural experience of 20th-century Syria, depicted through architectural, urban, and artistic projects designed in Syria or by Syrian architects, as well as the lives and stories of generations of architectural pioneers, and the various institutions that played a part in shaping the architectural practice and urban scene. The archive includes architectural documents and drawings, photographs both old and recent, competition booklets, sketches, official project descriptions, and oral histories as told by architects or their families and acquaintances.
Our open digital archive allows the sharing and circulation of data, contributing to a larger ecosystem that seeks to foster collective knowledge through partnerships and collaborations that transcend geographical constraints. It represents an open call for scholars, institutions, and, above all, the public, to critically analyze and contextualize this knowledge and offer continuous feedback and assessment, for we believe that this collective effort and continued open dialogue are the first crucial steps towards steering the future of the architectural practice and shaping the urban reality of our cities.
AMASyria co-founders, Ahmad Salah and Mirma AlWareh, participated in Archiving Otherwise: Co-creating Public Archives and Collective Knowledge, the opening strand of the Public Program of the Saudi National Pavilion, BUILT / UNBUILT, at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.
While a Eurocentric narrative has long shaped the architectural canon, we reflect on the archive and knowledge production, reconsidering how we approach our history and its relation to the global narrative, but most importantly, to ourselves and our self-perception. How do we redraw the contours of what is knowable?
Damascus first encountered cinema in 1912 when the merchant Habib al-Shamas organized the city's first-ever film screening at Zahrat Dimashq (Fleur de Damas), an extravagant café-theatre located in al-Marjeh Square, which was the heart of Damascus at the time. From that moment forward, cinema and its architectural presence became deeply intertwined with the city, each influencing the other until the eventual decline of cinema culture in Syria. Today, this decline is sharply visible in the abandoned cinema buildings of Damascus, which stand as remnants of the societal significance they once held. This presentation narrates the history of cinema theatres in Damascus, from the establishment of early cinemas during the late Ottoman period to their gradual decline in the 1970s under Baathist rule. Through archival research and on-site analysis, this study situates the architectural and cultural manifestations of cinema within the shifting social, political, and economic dynamics of the city. It highlights the role of local actors and communities in shaping cinema spaces, challenges narratives of Western-imported modernity in the region, and demonstrates how cinemas functioned as crucial public spaces in the city's social and cultural life.
At a pivotal and historic moment in Syria, as the country emerged from a long-standing dictatorship, this workshop was held to offer a multifaceted perspective on our architecture, exploring our dreams, fears, concerns, and the lessons we have learned and experienced over the past years, and what we can call today, the future of architecture and urbanism in Syria. The workshop was structured around eight key themes, prompting discussions on potential approaches to each. Preliminary papers were drafted by a team of specialized researchers and architects.
Zambeletti, Federica, interviewer. Interview with Ahmad Salah and Mirma Alwareh — BUILT / UNBUILT: Archiving Otherwise
Gamal, Mohieldin — ArchDaily
Jung, Sophie — taz.deGamal, Mohieldin — ArchDaily