What do we mean by the ‘built environment’? But who are 'we'?

This an invitation to open up a discussion around how do we define the built environment? Where definition as an attempt, can also frame the way we approach it. Rather than solely referring to architecture or urbanism centering the ‘built’ and marginalizing all the rest, we’d rather encompass all elements and systems that constitute our habitat. The physical, the natural, the social, the human, and the non-human. So how can we think and work around such a complex entanglement of components?

What brings together all parties of Tahayyuz, is the crucial belief that we can not tackle issues of our Built Environment in isolation from their intertwined systems. This requires joint forces of all disciplines involved throughout all processes. Starting from definition, understanding, approaching and possibly intervening.

This brings us to our bigger question, how can we work together? We – all those working on the various segments intersecting with space. Can we all work on equal footing? Without centering one role over the other. How could we produce a holistic narrative that interconnects all perspectives? Could the role of architecture be reformed within that narrative? These, and more questions have been shaping our come together, as we share our experiences and embark on exploring new ones

Written by: Salma Belal