Rana Dubeissy | Lebanese University (original) (raw)

Papers by Rana Dubeissy

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ), 2016

As cities become increasingly dense and social communities become more diverse and fragmented, Mo... more As cities become increasingly dense and social communities become more diverse and fragmented, Modern approaches fail to submit an elucidation, nor a valid response to the metropolitan density. The architect has a significant role in understanding the needs of social communities; he has to be sensitive to the bits and parts of the metropolis to decipher and comprehend the multitude of layers superimposed upon each other. Postmodernism has provided the architect with wider scopes to include vernacular traditions, particular wants and needs that can produce more quenching customized architecture. This research is a qualitative research with an Interpretive strategy, derived from the tradition of phenomenology, which seeks to understand the complex world from the perspective of those who lived it. A holistic analysis of Modernism where space was aesthetically constructed for a larger social project is sought for in this research. Also, it argues to prove that Postmodernism provided an independent space, not necessarily having a social objective yet provides tools to represent ethnic communities and cultural diversity. This research also discusses the nature of the catalysts of communities in the present era. The aim of this research is to endorse the role of the architect in communicating positively with social communities through his deep understanding of the constant revolutionizing of production, the never ending disturbance to social relations, the agitation and the insecurity. New ideas are always sweeping older ones, and humans are in constant need of an architecture that expresses their time. Architects have a social responsibility to understand the needs and provide scenarios.

The lack of visibility of women in architecture stresses on the fact that the architectural scene... more The lack of visibility of women in architecture stresses on the fact that the architectural scene is dominated by men and defined by the masculine paradigm in design, and in education. This paper attempts restructuring architecture from a gender perspective. It investigates the main divide between Feminism of Equality and Feminism of Difference through the experience of two female architects: Denise Scott Brown and Frances Bradshaw. Despite the growing interest of women in the architectural education, women are still invisible in practice. The macho culture dominating architecture uproots from the architectural education, continues to practice and leadership. Education plays a significant role in reshaping the field of architecture, where new criteria and strategies of design can be introduced. Architecture is the language by which we build our cities and realize our visions. Our cities will remain incomplete, and our visions are blinded until architecture is freed from binaries and bias.

Masculine dominance in society is omnipotent and inherent at the same time. It is reflected in cu... more Masculine dominance in society is omnipotent and inherent at the same time. It is reflected in culture in general, and in architecture and urban planning in particular. In career performance codes and the spaces produced and their organization. Architecture goes beyond geometry and structures and becomes alive just as human bodies, males, and females, roam its spaces and intrigue desires and feelings. Architecture transforms into a stage for cultural processes, and modes of social relations.
The privilege that the masculine has, develops the politics which determines the patriarchal usage of the space. Knowing that space itself is an instrument transformed into a power tool dominating the feminine. The masculine frames space as a representation of social hierarchy asserts stereotypes on gender roles, and polarities.
The dominance of the masculine body representation and male experience in architecture has generated fear and intimidation for the feminine, especially in public spaces, which possibly explains women exclusion from public spaces and consequently from public life. This gendering of public space, demarcation of women, the architectural containment of space, raises the question of the patriarchy of framing human movement and activities and gendered spaces.
This paper explores the development of architecture and urban planning and how this development was patriarchally orchestrated. It explores the cultural ripples of the male domination and its effect on architecture.
Moreover, it argues that the continuous discrimination between gender roles and assertion on female subversion will lead to further exclusion of women from public space.

Modern architecture was introduced in Lebanon in the 1920s.It was an innovation in the concept of... more Modern architecture was introduced in Lebanon in the 1920s.It was an innovation in the concept of the building; its openness, its relation to the street and its configuration. New technologies were imported, later manufactured in Lebanon. By 1950s, after the independence, Lebanon witnessed a period known as the Golden Age. Many new constructions following the fundamental principles of modernism were built by both local and foreign architects. The concrete facades, open windows, and public spaces were introduced with a new spirit, and the buildings communication with the streets was a central problematic to be resolved. This paper focuses on two buildings in Hamra: Centre Sabbagh by Alvar Alto and Alfred Roth, which is located at a corner of Hamra street, and Zahar building by George Rais, which is situated between two streets in Sanayeh. Both buildings were erected at relatively same period and at close locations. Each of the two buildings provided a different communication language to the street, yet both succeeded in creating attractive public spaces with deep understanding to the importance of the flow and its vitality for the life of the building. The aim of this study is to compare the two cases; the first by a foreign architect, the second by a Lebanese architect, and the effect of the cultural identity of the architect in producing interactive lovable architecture. What were the strategies followed by both architects to decipher the language of the street allowing including it as a vital part of the building? The research methodology follows that of a case study with a linear-analytic structure aiming at generalising into theory.

As cities become increasingly dense and social communities become more diverse and fragmented, Mo... more As cities become increasingly dense and social communities become more diverse and fragmented, Modern approaches fail to submit an elucidation, nor a valid response to the metropolitan density. The architect has a significant role in understanding the needs of social communities; he has to be sensitive to the bits and parts of the metropolis to decipher and comprehend the multitude of layers superimposed upon each other. Postmodernism has provided the architect with wider scopes to include vernacular traditions , particular wants and needs that can produce more quenching customised architecture. This research is a qualitative research with an Interpretive strategy, derived from the tradition of phenome-nology, which seeks to understand the complex world from the perspective of those who lived it. A holistic analysis of Modernism where space was aesthetically constructed for a larger social project is sought for in this research. Also, it argues to prove that Postmodernism provided an independent space, not necessarily having a social objective yet provides tools to represent ethnic communities and cultural diversity. This research also discusses the nature of the catalysts of communities in the present era. The aim of this research is to endorse the role of the architect in communicating positively with social communities through his deep understanding of the constant revolutionising of production, the never ending disturbance to social relations, the agitation and the insecurity. New ideas are always sweeping older ones, and humans are in constant need of an architecture that expresses their time. Architects have a social responsibility to understand the needs and provide scenarios.

أطلّت العمارة الأميركية، بعد الحرب العالمية الثانية، بصورتين معماريتين متناقضتين بالشكل، ومتكامل... more أطلّت العمارة الأميركية، بعد الحرب العالمية الثانية، بصورتين معماريتين متناقضتين بالشكل، ومتكاملتين بالمضمون. من أفضل الأمثلة على الصورة الأولى، صورة مبنى ليفر هاوس (Lever House)، الذي كان من أوائل المباني الحداثية على الطراز الدولي للعمارة (International Style). وقد نجح حينها في أن يكون مرجعا، يمثل في تشكيله المؤسّسة الأميريكية القابضة على رأس المال. أما المثال عن الصورة الثانية، كانت الوحدات السكنية لمدينة ليفيتاون( Levittown)، التي زعمت حينها أنها تؤمن المسكن الأمثل للعائلة الأميركية، على مسافة من المدينة، وحملت رؤية واضحة لحياة عائلية تقليدية إجتماعياً، ومتحفظة جمالياً.

كيف يمكننا تفسير هذا الانشقاق في التعبير العمراني لأميركا ما بعد الحرب؟ ولماذا كانت معايير الحداثة الجمالية مقبولة في المباني العامة، ومرفوضة تماماً في المباني الخاصة والسكنية؟ وما هي العلاقة التي تربط بين هذين الاتجاهين لعمارة مرتفعة مترفّعة عن محيطها، وأخرى منخفضة تقليدية ومحافظة؟
في ما يلي سأحاول الإجابة على هذه الأسئلة، على افتراض أن الموقف النمطي التقليدي لدور النوع الاجتماعي، مهّد لنوع من تسوية اجتماعية غير معلنة. ومن خلال تحليل هذه الفرضية، سأتطرق إلى بعض التحولات التي حدثت مؤخرا ضمن مكوّنات سياق ما بعد الحداثة.

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ), 2016

As cities become increasingly dense and social communities become more diverse and fragmented, Mo... more As cities become increasingly dense and social communities become more diverse and fragmented, Modern approaches fail to submit an elucidation, nor a valid response to the metropolitan density. The architect has a significant role in understanding the needs of social communities; he has to be sensitive to the bits and parts of the metropolis to decipher and comprehend the multitude of layers superimposed upon each other. Postmodernism has provided the architect with wider scopes to include vernacular traditions , particular wants and needs that can produce more quenching customised architecture. This research is a qualitative research with an Interpretive strategy, derived from the tradition of phenome-nology, which seeks to understand the complex world from the perspective of those who lived it. A holistic analysis of Modernism where space was aesthetically constructed for a larger social project is sought for in this research. Also, it argues to prove that Postmodernism provided an independent space, not necessarily having a social objective yet provides tools to represent ethnic communities and cultural diversity. This research also discusses the nature of the catalysts of communities in the present era. The aim of this research is to endorse the role of the architect in communicating positively with social communities through his deep understanding of the constant revolutionising of production, the never ending disturbance to social relations, the agitation and the insecurity. New ideas are always sweeping older ones, and humans are in constant need of an architecture that expresses their time. Architects have a social responsibility to understand the needs and provide scenarios.