IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section B

Abstract

In 2023, 500,000 residents were displaced from informal neighborhoods in Jeddah during one of the most rapid and extensive slum clearance efforts in Saudi Arabia’s history. Eviction notices spray-painted in red on buildings with the word إخلاء in Arabic, meaning “Evict,” shocking the residents. Given minimal time to leave, occupants had to abandon their homes, families, and communities. Over 34 million square meters were demolished within a year, reflecting the urgency and unprecedented scale of this initiative. Between what was demolished and what will be constructed, countless stories, memories, cultural traditions, architectural styles, and urban identities have been altered or lost. The rapid transformation, combined with a lack of affordable housing and inadequate planning, called for a closer examination of the socio-urban consequences, an area of research that is critically scarce in the literature in Saudi Arabia to this day. Focusing on the immediate impacts of Jeddah’s rapid slum demolition, the study highlights the repercussions of urban regeneration on both societies and the city, revealing the complex disruptions and intersections of culture, memory, space, and planning.
Using a multifaceted methodological framework, the research combines qualitative methods, such as interviews and focus groups, with visual and spatial approaches, including photography, re-photography, and mapping. By documenting over one thousand locations before demolition, it captures the social and visual impacts while uncovering untold narratives. Through thematic analysis, the study highlights the lived experiences of affected communities, establishing a baseline for urban development documentation, archiving and offering critical insights into the aftermath of rapid urbnisation.