URBAN REGENERATION UNDER FIRE

July 2006 saw the newly completed Bank of Beirut in Chtaura, Lebanon, coming under fire as a result of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. This building was one designed by the internationally acclaimed Lebanese architect Bernard Khoury, a keynote speaker at the Urban Legacies II: Another New Babylon conference to be held in Cardiff’s St David’s Hotel and Spa from 5-6^th October.

The Bank of Beirut was a symbol of the new spirit of economic and social regeneration witnessed in the Lebanese capital over the last decade and the damage inflicted on the building and other swathes of southern Beirut will have an obvious impact on future regeneration plans in what was often called the ‘Paris of the East’.

The impact of unexpected external forces on urban regeneration and the important role played by artists and architects in helping Beirut rise again from the ashes will feature heavily in Bernard’s presentation to the conference.

Bernard Khoury studied architecture at the Rhode Island school of Design and received a Masters in Architectural studies from Harvard University and in 2004 he was awarded the Architecture + Award. Bernard has since lectured and exhibited his work in prestigious academic institutions in Europe and the U.S including a solo show of his work given by the International Forum for Contemporary Architecture at the Aedes gallery in Berlin (2003).

Khoury started an independent practice in 1993 and his office has since developed an international reputation and a significant diverse portfolio of projects both locally and abroad.

Urban Legacies II will further investigate themes, which emerged from the first Conference in May 2004 that, together with commissioned artist's projects under the title "Ain’t no Love in the Heart of the City", explored the developing role of artists in the regeneration of neglected city areas and the increased application of cross disciplinary architectural, artistic and urban planning practices. Other speakers at the conference include Reinier de Graaf, Filip de Boeck and Tom van Gestel.

More information on the Urban Legacies II is available online on www.urbanlegacies.co.uk.

ENDS

For further information please contact Wiard Sterk at CBAT, on 029 2048 8772 or Rhodri Ellis Owen at Cambrensis PR on 029 20 257075