vacancy

Study

Squatting Vacant Buildings: A Report on the Illegality of Evictions During the War

During the Israeli war on Lebanon, the use of vacant buildings proliferated as a prominent way to access housing due to the lack of alternatives. In an attempt to understand these practices, this report documents the legal and political tools used for evictions and eviction threats in 3 case studies in Beirut, highlighting their illegitimacy. It also calls for challenging the criminalization of squatting, particularly during war, and emphasizes the role of these practices in restoring the social value of vacant buildings.

Field Watch

 In Bir Hassan, Eviction After Displacement, Under the Pressure of Real Estate Development, and the Pretext of Protecting the Safety of Residents

After a long history of threatening families displaced by the Lebanese Civil War with eviction from a residential building in Bir Hassan under the pretext of being “illegal occupants,” and following failed negotiations, …

Report

When the Emergency Plan Fails in Practice: A Critical Reading of Crisis Management

This report, produced after the ceasefire was announced, offers an evaluation and critique to the national emergency plan, highlighting its content flaws and execution failures based on field observations and the experiences of those impacted by the Israeli war.

Field Watch

The displaced bring life back to a vacant building on Jeanne d’Arc Street

فُتح مبنى خالِ في شارع جان دارك لاستقبال النازحين جرّاء الحرب الإسرائيلية. إلّا أن الإعلام ضجّ استنكاراً لما اعتبره تعدٍ على الأملاك الخاصة وحقوق كبار رجال الأعمال، بدلاً من الاحتفال بتحويل الشقق الفارغة التي بُنِيَت على أنقاض النسيج العمراني الاجتماعي للأحياء، إلى مساكن تلعب دورها الاجتماعي الحقيقي في تأمين المأوى خاصة في أوقات الحرب والأزمات.

From Dossier Research-Based Article

How can land and property taxes in Lebanon be fair?

The tax system plays a critical role in the social contract between the state and society, with individuals contributing taxes in exchange for the state’s commitment to societal well-being. However, recent global tax …

Publication

Another City Series: Housing Narratives

As we get to know the streets and alleys whose residents have witnessed significant changes in the architectural and social environment, we pose questions about heritage and the housing policies which have led …

From Dossier Research-Based Article

Tripoli, a “Heritage City” At The Expense of Its Residents

In this article, we delve into the battle of restoring and rehabilitating historical buildings in the cities of Tripoli and Mina (North Lebanon), focusing on “Taht Al-Sibat” neighborhood, Al-Fawal building, and other examples. …

Dossier

Tripoli: Who Took Away Our Land?

In this series of articles, we investigate how the authorities handled the cases of both the riverine and maritime Tripoli (i.e., the Mina), and the implications of their policies on people’s housing rights, …

Project

Ground to Dust: Systems of Extraction and the Search for Spatial Justice

This exhibition at Beirut Art Center is Public Works Studio’s first institutional presentation. Rather than approach the format of the exhibition with any kind of finality, PW has created a site as unstable …

Research-Based Article

About the Absence of State Housing Policies

Disconnected Laws and Temporary Procedures

In light of the severe housing crisis in Lebanon, in this article we are interested in monitoring the state’s measures in the housing sector and their compatibility with the requirements of society in …

Petition

A “Zero Eviction” Policy, Fair Rent, and a Limit to Vacant Properties:

This is What the Public Good Demands

The mainstream Lebanese media portrays the on-going housing crisis as a conflict between the landlord and the tenant, neglecting the role of the state in regulating rents, determining land uses, and managing property …

Project

Tripoli: Who Took Away Our Land

Tripoli, also known as ”Al-Fayhaa”, is the second capital of Lebanon, the capital of the north. While these titles lead us to believe that Tripoli serves as a crucial economic and development center …