Issue #11
Climate Cartographies
Suha Hassan (Ed.), Alexandra Riedel, Alexander Schwarz, Ali Idris Ali Elgohni, Kabage Karanja and Stella Mutegi, Elkindi Elaagip, Suzi Merghani, Hashim Khalifa Mahgoub, Helen and Michael Mallinson, Iwona Kozieradzka-Ogunmakin, Pier Paolo Tamburelli, Solange Ashby, William Carruthers, Melad Alfulaij
CATEGORY
Welcome to Issue #11: Climate Cartographies, guest edited by Suha Hassan, that introduces the inaugural iteration of the Architectural Association Visiting School (AA VS) Climate Cartographies, which was conducted online in Khartoum. The AA VS Climate Cartographies focuses on investigating the long-term impacts of climate change on heritage sites by utilising cartographic methodologies to develop new maps that reveal overlooked relationships within our environment through various forms of representation.
The issue highlights the program’s framework and the outcomes it has generated. It is accompanied by a postscript that contemplates the obstacles encountered in its implementation in the wake of a revolution, amidst the shadows of a coup, and just before the eruption of armed conflict.
The program was developed in response to the floods that occurred in Sudan in autumn 2019. Initially planned as a PhD program, it aimed to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to addressing flooding disasters by integrating sustainability, disaster management, historical research, and creative practices. It sought to engage participants from diverse backgrounds with a selected site. While efforts were underway to establish the program at institutions in London or Stockholm, an opportunity arose to launch it on a smaller scale through the Architectural Association Visiting School.[1] The initial brief focused on flooding and devising solutions for those affected, which evolved to include discussions about a heritage site to provide essential historical context for this complex issue. Choosing heritage sites serves multiple purposes: it helps protect the dignity of displaced individuals, who are often portrayed in degrading ways by the media. It also engages a broader audience, as the conservation of world heritage sites tends to garner more immediate attention than the plight of flood-displaced individuals. By centring the conversation around the site, we effectively include the communities tied to it.
The program’s inaugural site was Meroë, the last capital of the Kingdom of Kush, located north of the 6th Nile Cataract, close to Shendi and almost 4 hours (200 km) northeast of the capital city, Khartoum. The Kushite Empire was established around 2450 BCE with Kerma as its capital, and its final phase, the Meroitic Period, lasted from around 300 BCE to 350 CE. This period encompasses three Meroitic sites: the remains of the royal city of Meroë and its cemeteries, along with pyramids and temples at Musawwarat es-Sufra and Naqa. The program focused on the Royal City and the Cemetery. The environmental changes affecting the site are historical and continue to evolve, as images from less than a hundred years ago indicate a rapidly shifting ecological system that has left traces on the landscape and the material remains of the site. Recent interventions aim to protect the site from flooding and sandstorms, which have intensified in recent years.
The preparation for the program would highlight numerous aspects related to the significance of examining a UNESCO Heritage Site in the context of climate change. These sites are frequently analysed through the lenses of politics, geopolitics, and nation-building. This is not surprising, given that the establishment of the UNESCO World Heritage List, as noted by various scholars, was influenced by the Cold War tensions between the US and the USSR, particularly regarding the construction of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt. The dam’s development prompted the UNESCO-led International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia, driven by US concerns over the shared human heritage that would be lost to rising waters.[2] Consequently, sites along the Nile gained increased visibility and significance within the archaeological community.
A diagram showcasing heritage sites in the Nile Valley that are either on the registered or tentative lists of UNESCO, including information about their size, inscription date or tentative list entry, and classification as either cultural or natural sites. Graphics by Melad Alfulaij.
A timeline of the listing of heritage sites in the Nile Valley either on the registered or tentative lists of UNESCO. Graphics by Melad Alfulaij.
Beyond the discourse of heritage and the political ramifications of these sites, they provide valuable insights into the enduring impacts of climate change, functioning as vital climate archives. Engaging with these sites fosters a deeper understanding of environmental histories and the built environment, a discourse that is currently evolving. For instance, the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain convened in 2021 for a conference titled “Architectural History + Climate Emergency,” where they sought to investigate these connections.[3] Additionally, the platform Current: Collective for Architecture History and Environment focuses specifically on the interplay between climate and historical narratives.[4] Harvard University’s ArchaeoGLOBE Dataverse compiles data that links human construction activities to the narrative of climate change.[5] Another emerging dialogue pertains to the representation of data in relation to heritage and climate. The UCL Archaeology-Heritage-Art Network exemplifies efforts to integrate the arts into heritage studies.[6] Recently published, Accumulation: The Art, Architecture, and Media of Climate Change examines visual methods for making climate change more visible.[7]
A diagram illustrating the dams constructed in the countries of the Nile Valley, along with information on their dimensions and construction dates. Graphics by Melad Alfulaij.
At the core of Climate Cartographies’ engagement with various mediums lies a common approach that seeks to reinterpret cartographic concepts and uncover new spatial and temporal connections within the explored context. The course acknowledges that mapping empowers us to envision alternative representations of the world, challenging the dominant narratives established by powerful entities that typically create these maps for us, literally and metaphorically. Cartography serves as a means to engage with power dynamics and express knowledge through diverse poetic forms, envisioning new ways of existence. Architects often recognize the significance of creating maps that can transform the viewer’s perspective, which requires careful consideration of the methods and tools employed for communication. The setting for these discussions, the “classroom,” is most effective when it functions as a forum that fosters connections, where a structured framework encourages discussion while allowing for spontaneous, unplanned dialogue. The forum aims to cultivate critical thinking while creating an enjoyable atmosphere that fosters a sense of community and belonging among students.
The issue is organized into three sections. The first section focuses on the program structure, featuring excerpts from invited speakers who helped shape the course, divided into its three components: Critical Climates, Critical Heritage, and Climate Imaginations. The second section showcases students’ work, while the third section offers a post-script reflection that considers the experience of conducting the program during a transition period in Khartoum. The following summarizes the course structure.
Critical Climates examines the historical evolution of climate change impacting the Nile, tracing its roots from ancient times to the contemporary challenges faced at the site and highlighting the comprehensive interventions undertaken by various organizations to respond to these issues. Bioarchaeologist Iwona Kozieradzka-Ogunmakin presented her hypothesis linking environmental changes to the collapse of the Meroë civilization. Additionally, architectural historian Alexandra Riedel from the Qatar Sudan Archaeological Project (QSAP) discussed the climatic challenges faced at the site, such as issues related to water and sand, and proposed various mitigation strategies to alleviate the effects of flooding and desertification. Architect and planner Elkindi Elaagip contributed insights from his experience with the Ministry of Planning and the UN-Habitat, highlighting policies that exacerbate flooding and sharing materials that promote resilience. Suzi Merghani, a volunteer with the grassroots organization Nafeer, facilitated a conversation in Arabic about the group’s work as a non-profit, voluntary entity focused on mitigating the impacts of flooding for those displaced by it.
Critical Heritage invites a contemplative exploration of the often-overlooked interplay between the unpredictable nature of altered water passages and the erasure of heritage. The ever-shifting currents of the Nile have resulted in new patterns that occasionally eradicate Nubian heritage. Today, the river’s course is once again being modified through ambitious urban ventures, such as the construction of dams, alongside the pressing challenges posed by climate change that threaten further heritage sites. Through the lens of Critical Heritage, students engage with insights from researchers who have extensively studied the region, illuminating the broader geopolitics that influence changes along the Nile, national aspirations, and the significance of the historical narratives of the communities that once inhabited the area. Architectural critic Hashim Khalifa discussed modernization projects and Nubia, emphasizing the connection between the dams, modernity, and nation-building. Historian William Carruthers addressed the geopolitics surrounding world heritage sites, while Solange Ashby presented on the historical communities that once inhabited the kingdoms of Meroë.
Climate Imaginations provides insights into how architectural practices engage with the environments of the Nile Valley, showcasing both proposed interventions and projects that broaden our understanding of possibilities. Architect Pier Paolo Tamburelli from baukuh introduced the 900 KM Nile City project, envisioning the Nile as a continuous urban landscape. Cave Bureau, Kabage Karanja and Stella Mutegi, discussed their Anthropocene Museum project, which critically addresses the shortcomings in the climate change narrative. Engineer Ali Idris Ali Elgohni presented a proposal for a new canal entitled the Development Axis of Wadi Al-Muqaddam, which explores knowledge, visions, and solutions to harness excess floodwater and redirect it to areas suffering from drought. Alexander Schwarz from David Chipperfield Architects presented a design analysis and approach for the proposed Naga Site Museum. Architects Helen and Michael Mallinson from Mallinson Architects showcased their project for the Western Sudan Community Museums, including the design’s mitigation solutions.[8]
Contents
Critical Climates
Alexandra Riedel, Elkindi Elaagip, Iwona Kozieradzka-Ogunmakin, Suzi Merghani
Critical Heritage
Hashim Khalifa, Solange Ashby, William Carruthers
Climate Imaginations
Pier Paolo Tamburelli, Kabage Karanja and Stella Mutegi, Ali Ali Idris Ali Elgohni, Alexander Schwarz, Helen and Michael Mallinson,
Mapping Climate Landscapes of Meroë
Ahmed Abdelrahim, Almuzn M. Elhassan, Blqees Zuhair, Hadeel Mohamed, Hadeel Subahi, Heba Elidrisi, Hiba Ismail, Ibrahim Aboagala, Joanna Lalowska, Jumanah Rizk, Maab Obada, Malaz Mohamed Ali, Medhanit Ayele, Muram Shaheen, Nicole Remus, Rawan Jahromi, Robel Kebede, Shahd Osman, Vera-Simone Schulz, Yasmin Hamad, Yasmin Hani
Climate Post-Script at the Eleventh Hour
Suha Hassan
1.
Christopher Pierce, the Head of the AA VS, and Beatriz Chivite, the AA VS Coordinator, have been instrumental in the program’s success at the AA School. Nuha Eltinay, Head of AA VS Khartoum, played a crucial role in the initial planning stages, while Marwah Osama, the Teaching Assistant at AA VS Khartoum, provided essential support in facilitating the program.
2.
For more on the establishment of the UNESCO heritage sites list, see Lucia Allais, Designs of Destruction: The Making of Monuments in the Twentieth Century, University of Chicago Press, 2020; and William Carruthers, Flooded Pasts: UNESCO, Nubia, and the Recolonization of Archaeology, Cornell University Press, 2022.
3.
Architectural History + Climate Emergency: 2021 Annual Symposium, The Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain, SAHGB. https://www.sahgb.org.uk/news/annualsymposium2021-call-for-participation
4.
Dalal Musaed Alsayer, Daniel Barber, and Carson Chan (eds.). Current: Collective for Architecture History and Environment. https://www.instagram.com/current_collective/
5.
ArchaeoGLOBE Dataverse, Harvard University. https://archaeoglobe.com/
6.
Archaeology-Heritage-Art Network, UCL. https://www.archaeologyheritageart.net/
7.
Nick Axel, Nikolaus Hirsch, Daniel Barber, and Anton Vidokle, eds. Accumulation: The Art, Architecture, and Media of Climate Change. e-flux Architecture and the University of Minnesota Press, 2022.
8.
Two artists contributed to Climate Imaginations: Ali Cherri and André Lützen. Due to the nature of the projects shared, it was not possible to publish their contributions to the course. Ali Cherri shared extracts from his film, which is the final installment of his trilogy exploring environmental challenges and political unrest in the Arab world, entitled The Dam, in addition to the process of producing the film. André Lützen shared his photography project in Khartoum, which is the final installment of his trilogy Living Climate, that documents extreme climates in three different cities.
is an architect and founder of ASH, an architecture practice based in Stockholm, Sweden, which provides design and consultation services for heritage and cultural management. She has lectured and taught in universities in Bahrain, Egypt, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden, Sudan, and the UK. She trained as a journalist while studying architecture. Suha founded Mawane, a platform for urban research based in Bahrain and is a founding member of the MSc [Modern Sudan collective]. Both platforms enable researching and sharing the outcomes through public art exhibitions, talks, and workshops.
is an architect and architectural historian interested in Roman and Meroitic architecture and cultural heritage preservation. She taught building history and documentation at the University of Technology in Cottbus/Germany. She has participated in survey and excavation projects in Sudan, Italy, Jordan and Turkey. Since 2013, Alexandra has been a scientific staff member at the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin. She co-directs the Qatari Mission for the Pyramids of Sudan (QMPS) at the World Heritage Site of Meroe/Sudan.
studied architecture at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart and the Universität Stuttgart, after completing an education in violin making. He has worked for David Chipperfield Architects since 1996, initially in London and since 1998 in Berlin. In 2011, he became a partner in the Berlin office. As design director, Alexander is responsible for numerous project designs and competitions. Through his academic commitments, he combines the practice of architecture and research with teaching. In 2015, Alexander assumed the ‘Public Building and Design’ professorship at the Universität Stuttgart.
is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Haz Engineering Company. He is the designer and supervisor of the Martyr Sabirah Airport in Al-Junaina, Sudan. He participated in designing and supervising the grain mill projects for Sayga and Wheata Company. He is an activist in the field of the environment and water.
are co-founders of Cave Bureau a Nairobi-based bureau of architects and researchers charting explorations into architecture and urbanism within nature. Their work addresses and works to decode both anthropological and geological contexts of the postcolonial African city explored through drawing, storytelling, construction, and the curation of performative events of resistance. The bureau develops systems and structures that improve the human condition without negatively impacting natural environments and the social fabric of communities.
graduated from the Department of Architecture, University of Khartoum in 2002. He has a mix of experience, including architectural consultancy services at different firms, teaching in universities, and participating in research-based projects during his work in the Ministry of Physical Planning Ministry in Khartoum state. From 2014 to 2015, he was a member of a consultancy team as an urban planning consultant for the UN-Habitat in a project on Emergency Flood Response in Khartoum for Vulnerable Communities.
received a Diploma of Architecture from the Khartoum Technical Institute in 1968 and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Khartoum in 1977. He received a PhD in Architecture from the Faculty of Social Studies at the University of Edinburgh in 1988. Hashim was appointed an assistant professor in 1988 and promoted to associate professor in 2000. He worked in academia from 1977 until 2021 in several universities in Sudan and the Arab world. Hashim contributed to establishing several academic programs in architecture, interior design and landscape architecture. He has published several papers in more than one periodical.
are co-founders of Mallinson Architects, a research-led practice specialised in cultural heritage projects, museums and bespoke residential developments. They have worked in Sudan since 1987, working in Rescue Archaeology for the Sudan National Museum and the British Museum’s Sudan Archaeological Research Society, UNESCO, the World Bank, World Heritage Sites in Sudan and Ethiopia, and most recently the Prince Claus Fund, British Council Cultural Protection Fund, British Council, Aliph and the British Institute in Eastern Africa developing Community Museums to protect and display the intangible and tangible heritage of Sudan.
is a member of Nafeer, a civil society organisation founded in 2013 by a group of volunteers working together to aid families affected by the heavy rains and the resulting floods in various areas of Sudan. The initiative consists of members in the country and the diaspora, each contributing with their work, expertise or resources. The initiative has become a point of contact for those affected by the floods. They receive reports, conduct field surveys, and collect and distribute relief support. Nafeer has been building a database from the work they have been carrying out over the years.
is a Bioarchaeologist and Lecturer at the University of Exeter and Assistant Professor at the University of Warsaw. Since 2002, she has been actively involved in archaeological research in the Nile Valley, working with international teams at high-profile sites in Egypt and Sudan. Her research explores the relationship between people and their historical environments through patterns of health and disease, subsistence and migration. In particular, she is interested in the climate and environmental changes and their impact on human populations, past and present. Her recent project, Environmental Changes and the Collapse of the Kingdom of Meroe, Sudan, highlights the historical climate and environmental changes.
studied at the University of Genoa and the Berlage Institute Rotterdam. In 2004, Pier Paolo founded baukuh with Paolo Carpi, Silvia Lupi, Vittorio Pizzigoni, Giacomo Summa, and Andrea Zanderigo. baukuh is based in Milan and Genoa. He has lectured at a large number of univerities around the world. Pier Paolo has taught at the Berlage Institute Rotterdam, at TUM Munich, at FAUP Porto, at Harvard GSD, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, at TU Vienna, and he is currently a professor at the Milan Politecnico. Pier Paolo was one of the founders and editors of the architectural magazine “San Rocco”.
received her doctorate in Egyptology, specialising in ancient Egyptian language and Nubian religion, from the University of Chicago. Her first book, Calling Out to Isis: The Enduring Nubian Presence at Philae, explores the Temple of Philae as a Nubian sacred site. Her current research describes women’s roles as queens, priestesses, and mothers in traditional Nubian religious practices. Solange teaches in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).
is a Lecturer in Heritage and Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Essex. He is the author of Flooded Pasts: UNESCO, Nubia, and the Recolonization of Archaeology (Cornell University Press, 2022) and holds a PhD in the History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge (2014). William has held grants from, among others, the AHRC, the Gerda Henkel Stiftung, and the Leverhulme Trust and held postdoctoral positions in the UK, India, and Italy. He is currently working on a book project about why—despite the concept’s colonial genealogies— newly independent countries helped to enable the global rise of heritage.
is an architect based in Bahrain whose work aims to enrich its surrounding context and culture. He contributes to the architecture community through initiatives and voluntary work. Melad has multiple local and international participation in design, culture, research, and documentation.
