The Bride of the Desert

<p>The Syrian civil war has caused the largest global migration in history, where more than 11 million refugees have been forced to leave their home country due to political conflict. In January 2016 Angela Merkel announced that Syrian war refugees in Europe would be repatriated once the Syrian war is over. But for many Syrians, their homes have been destroyed. The problem for the returning Syrian people is more than simply providing housing - even more important is how to provide a renewed sense of community as well as cultural and place identity for the returning refugees. This thesis reflects on how architecture can make a difference in helping to re-establish the cultural and place identity of a war-torn country. The investigation takes a speculative approach to this topic with the principal objective being to provoke discussion and awareness about the fragile future of war-torn historic cities like Palmyra in Syria. The investigation explores how architectural narrative can be perceived metaphorically as a guardian or a hero sitting within or on the outskirts of a devastated city, watching over it, in a place where it can reflect upon the historic symbolic attributes of the city that once provided its place identity. The Syrian site of this investigation is in Palmyra, and for this site the most important attributes are: the historic Roman ruins to the south (past), the new city being rebuilt in the north (future), the community camel racing track in the west (recreation, freedom) and the Tadmor Prison in the east (imprisonment, restriction). These four sites can be understood as icons of the city’s ongoing time line, and acting as catalysts for new development that ensure the continuity of the community’s past and future. The final design proposition is to establish a metaphorical sanctuary for returning Syrian refugees, a place that functions as: 1) a memorial to ensure remembrance of the devastating crisis, 2) an archive of broken cultural artefacts, and 3) a place where returning refugees can come to understand the war as but one chapter in an ongoing cultural heritage that has endured the past and will move forward proudly into the future. This metaphorical sanctuary acts as a ‘guardian’, meant to greet the refugees upon their return to their homeland. As a sanctuary, they ‘inhabit’ it while awaiting the rebuilding of their homes - and by inhabiting it, they become a community with others who have suffered devastating loss, others who are determined to remember, and to move forward. This speculative sanctuary design has been conceived to aid them in the essential process of recovery, as an architectural exhibition. Like similar work of Woods and Libeskind, it is buildable architecture, never intended to be built. Through this memorial/sanctuary, the devastation of war and tragic loss can be reflected upon as one segment of an ongoing eternal time line linked back to their ancient civilization, so that the recent war is not perceived as an ending of their community, but instead as an important reminder of a greater narrative that everyone shares, a narrative that can help define their strength and resilience as they move into the future.</p>

The Bride of the Desert

<p>The Syrian civil war has caused the largest global migration in history, where more than 11 million refugees have been forced to leave their home country due to political conflict. In January 2016 Angela Merkel announced that Syrian war refugees in Europe would be repatriated once the Syrian war is over. But for many Syrians, their homes have been destroyed. The problem for the returning Syrian people is more than simply providing housing - even more important is how to provide a renewed sense of community as well as cultural and place identity for the returning refugees. This thesis reflects on how architecture can make a difference in helping to re-establish the cultural and place identity of a war-torn country. The investigation takes a speculative approach to this topic with the principal objective being to provoke discussion and awareness about the fragile future of war-torn historic cities like Palmyra in Syria. The investigation explores how architectural narrative can be perceived metaphorically as a guardian or a hero sitting within or on the outskirts of a devastated city, watching over it, in a place where it can reflect upon the historic symbolic attributes of the city that once provided its place identity. The Syrian site of this investigation is in Palmyra, and for this site the most important attributes are: the historic Roman ruins to the south (past), the new city being rebuilt in the north (future), the community camel racing track in the west (recreation, freedom) and the Tadmor Prison in the east (imprisonment, restriction). These four sites can be understood as icons of the city’s ongoing time line, and acting as catalysts for new development that ensure the continuity of the community’s past and future. The final design proposition is to establish a metaphorical sanctuary for returning Syrian refugees, a place that functions as: 1) a memorial to ensure remembrance of the devastating crisis, 2) an archive of broken cultural artefacts, and 3) a place where returning refugees can come to understand the war as but one chapter in an ongoing cultural heritage that has endured the past and will move forward proudly into the future. This metaphorical sanctuary acts as a ‘guardian’, meant to greet the refugees upon their return to their homeland. As a sanctuary, they ‘inhabit’ it while awaiting the rebuilding of their homes - and by inhabiting it, they become a community with others who have suffered devastating loss, others who are determined to remember, and to move forward. This speculative sanctuary design has been conceived to aid them in the essential process of recovery, as an architectural exhibition. Like similar work of Woods and Libeskind, it is buildable architecture, never intended to be built. Through this memorial/sanctuary, the devastation of war and tragic loss can be reflected upon as one segment of an ongoing eternal time line linked back to their ancient civilization, so that the recent war is not perceived as an ending of their community, but instead as an important reminder of a greater narrative that everyone shares, a narrative that can help define their strength and resilience as they move into the future.</p>

Introduction

The German federal election in September 2021 marked a significant transformation for German politics. As Chancellor Angela Merkel decided not to run again, the election spelled the end of her 16-year tenure; it also signaled a major shift in the German party system. The right-populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered the Bundestag again after their first entry in 2017, implying—for the first time since 1949—the establishment and sustained parliamentary presence of a party on the national level to the (far-)right of the Christian Democrats. The challenges facing the new parliament and government after the election are paramount. The climate crisis looms as large as ever. With the exception of the AfD, all German parties (and a distinct majority of voters) see this as the most pressing issue to tackle. However, the scope of action will be limited as the extensive state debt accumulated through covid-19 relief measures exerts pressure on the specific German model of social market economy. Finally, the international environment has seen drastic changes in the last years: While the election of u.s. President Joe Biden as successor to Donald Trump implies a return to normal for transatlantic relations, the uk exit from the eu shifts the balance between the remaining member states. After the Euro, refugee, and pandemic crises, European solidarity is strained, complicating Germany’s role as the eu’s “reluctant hegemon” or “gentle giant.” This reluctance or restraint connotes far more than a strategic policy choice: it is deeply rooted in the German history of the twentieth century that witnessed the cruelty and atrocities of the Nazi regime.

Fraught French-UK relations will persist

Significance The move was seen as an expression of French anger over the UK government’s decision not to grant some French fishermen licences to fish in UK waters. The dispute coincides with broader bilateral tension over Brexit, AUKUS and immigration crossings. Impacts Although unlikely, France may increase checks on goods going to and coming from the United Kingdom if London triggers Article 16 of the NIP. The AUKUS development threatens to undermine French and UK cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. France’s influence over EU relations with the United Kingdom will grow amid the pending departure of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.