IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section A
Abstract
An archipelago of 40 low-lying islands, Bahrain is being reshaped by its government’s post-oil diversification strategy, through its Vision 2050. Massive land reclamation projects, favoring real estate capital, are transforming natural shorelines into artificial islands, often displacing communities historically reliant on fishing and pearling, and creating a stark territorial duality between expansion in the north and oil extraction in the south. Adaptive governmental measures, such as mangrove expansion and sustainable architecture, aim to meet Bahrain’s climate commitments but often produce unintended ecological consequences. Reclamation is reducing migratory birds’ habitats and coastal ecosystems, while mangrove nurseries are replacing natural estuaries, disrupting traditional fisheries. Additionally, rapid urbanization is quickly converting coastal open spaces into car-oriented low-density development, worsening biodiversity loss, urban heat islands, and urban livability. These conflicting interventions reveal a broader tension between large-scale developments and their footprint on fragile ecosystems, amid a worsening climate crisis marked by rising temperatures, sea-levels, water scarcity, and biodiversity decline. This paper presents work from an interdisciplinary teaching lab in urban design, architecture, and landscape, reimagining Bahrain’s coastal zones. It explores how design can mediate between political agendas, climatic processes, people’s needs and material realities of place to enhance urban livability in the face of extreme weather and resource scarcity. Projects navigate between large-scale development, advancing social-ecological equity and working with the dynamics of climate, ecology, and water. Through these speculative futures, the lab proposes spatial, economical, and ecological frameworks that enhance existing landscapes and urban localities to prioritize livability, resource recovery, and climate adaptability.
Carla Aramouny is an architect and associate professor at the American University of Beirut, School of Architecture and Design, where she is founder and director of ArD TechLab. She currently holds the position of Associate Dean of Student Affairs at AUB, and has previously served as Architecture Convener. Her work and research reflect on intersections of architecture and the expanded environment, with a focus on infrastructure and visualization. She holds an M.Arch from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.Arch from the Lebanese American University.
Sandra Frem is an architect and founding partner at platau | platform for architecture and urbanism. She currently holds the position of assistant professor of practice in Architecture at the American University of Beirut, School of Architecture and Design. Her practice and research probe the intersections between architecture, culture, and the environment. Her work was exhibited internationally, notably at the Seoul Biennale 2019 and the Venice Biennale 2021. She holds a SMArchS in Architecture and Urbanism with distinction from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a DES in Architecture from the Lebanese University. ;
Karim Bacha is a landscape architect, urban planner, and lecturer at the American University of Beirut’s School of Architecture and Design. With over 15 years of experience in the Middle East, he specializes in urban development schemes, large-scale landscape planning, visual impact assessments, and public realm strategies. His teaching prioritizes real-world applicability, spatial representation, and landscape entrepreneurship – bridging ecological and economic opportunities. His current research explores emerging technologies, notably Generative AI, in landscape architecture. He co-founded Scapeworks, an award-winning studio focused on sustainable urban design and responsive outdoor spaces tailored to local environmental and socio-economic contexts.
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Thursday 10th July, 2025