Sedimentary Urbanization

The talk will provide an overview of Hiba Bou Akar‘s newest book, Sedimentary Urbanization, which explores how low-income Lebanese families and Syrian refugees access affordable housing on the peripheries of Beirut. The book introduces the concept of “dead futures”—planned futures disrupted by war, economic crises, or environmental collapse.

Hiba Bou Akar teaches in the Urban Planning program at Columbia GSAPP. Her research focuses on planning in conflict and post-conflict cities, the question of urban security and violence, and the role of religious political organizations in the making of cities. Her For the War Yet to Come: Planning Beirut’s Frontiers (Stanford University Press, 2018) won the 2019 Nikki Keddie Book Award and the 2019 Anthony Leeds Prize.

The Rendez-Vous de l’Institut Series is generously supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. You will find a full calendar of the Fellows’ Talks.