Rebuilding Dignity: Towns and Cities after War and Destruction
How to create towns and cities that are not merely rebuilt, but which truly feel like home again.
The human story is one of continuous creation and catastrophic destruction. From the shattered infrastructure of Ukraine to the protracted crisis in Sudan and the Levant, towns and cities across the globe are grappling with the twin tasks of physical reconstruction and social healing. How can communities rebuild while truly honouring the culture, civilisation, and humanity of the people who live in these war-wasted places?
Dr. Ammar Azzouz, architect and author of Domicide, argues that the process must begin with a radical shift in perspective. His talk will explore "Domicide"—the deliberate destruction of home—arguing that rebuilding must start with the dignity and memory of residents, not just concrete. He will emphasize the critical need to resist "slow violence," or the gradual erosion of a city's social and architectural fabric under post-war reconstruction projects that often prioritize political or economic interests over people.
Dr. Azzouz will outline practical strategies centred on community agency and using local, decentralized, and bottom-up planning. By putting the displaced and those who stayed at the heart of the design process, he demonstrates how it is possible to create cities that are not merely rebuilt, but which truly feel like home again.
12:30
Introduction – Leo Hammond, Past Chair, Urban Design Group
Talk – Dr Ammar Azzouz
Discussion
Ammar Azzouz is an architect, urban designer, and academic specializing in cities affected by conflict, memory, and reconstruction. He is a British Academy Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford. Azzouz is best known for his influential book, Domicide: Architecture, War and the Destruction of Home in Syria (2023), which examines the political and emotional impact of destroying homes. His work advocates for a people-centric approach to rebuilding, grounded in local memory and resilience.
