Sharjah Architecture Triennial Launches 2026 Exhibition on Arab Architectural Archives
On May 2, 2026, the Sharjah Architecture Triennial (SAT) will unveil 'A Journey into Architecture Archives: Baghdad, Damascus, Tunis' at Al Qasimiyah School, continuing until July 12. Curated by George Arbid, this exhibition showcases architectural archives spanning from the 1930s to the 1980s, expanding upon the 2023 edition that focused on Beirut, Cairo, and Rabat. It includes a variety of materials such as drawings, documents, photographs, and models, featuring notable projects like the Hôtel du Lac in Tunis and the Mayoralty Building in Baghdad. Additionally, Arbid presents three documentary films that merge archival research with oral histories. An online lecture and panel discussion are scheduled for the opening day, promoting collaboration and education on architectural histories in the Arab region.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'A Journey into Architecture Archives: Baghdad, Damascus, Tunis' opens May 2, 2026
- Curated by George Arbid at Al Qasimiyah School, running until July 12, 2026
- Part of Sharjah Architecture Triennial's long-term research program on Arab architectural archives
- Features archival materials, models, and films from 1930s to 1980s focusing on Baghdad, Damascus, and Tunis
- Includes works by Raffaele Contigiani, Hisham Munir, and documentation of experimental cinema structures
- Adopts a 'Collection Room' format for research-oriented engagement with archival material
- Public program on May 2 includes online lecture by George Arbid and panel discussion with Salma Gharbi, Zaid Issam, Ahmad Salah, Ola Seif
- Aims to contribute to a shared archival infrastructure and map architectural histories from within the region
Entities
Artists
- George Arbid
- Raffaele Contigiani
- Antoine Tabet
- Abdelsattar Al-Ayash
- Kahtan Awni
- Hisham Munir
- Abdul-Mohsen Kodmani
- Wassim Ben Mahmoud
- Mohammad Adnan Ikhlasi
- Salma Gharbi
- Zaid Issam
- Ahmad Salah
- Ola Seif
Institutions
- Sharjah Architecture Triennial
- Al Qasimiyah School
- Arab Center for Architecture
- Deir ez-Zor Heritage Library
- UNESCO
Locations
- Sharjah
- United Arab Emirates
- Baghdad
- Iraq
- Damascus
- Syria
- Tunis
- Tunisia
- Beirut
- Lebanon
- Cairo
- Egypt
- Rabat
- Morocco
- Aleppo
- Al Marsa