Intervention in July 9th : a new plan for Misurata City, Libya

Abstract

Libya's urban form has changed radically since the second half of the 19th century. Prolonged exposure to non-traditional and non-regional cultural, sociopolitical, economic, and design influences has caused certain developed areas to be plagued with many of the same problems the western world is facing in cities built within a similar framework. These blights include: high energy consumption, contaminated water, air quality, and traffic. This thesis explores the affect of the cultural crisis manifesting within the urban form. In order to design a contextually relevant building typology it is imperative to assess the architectural language of the culture. The portion of this project will include a historical evaluation of building typology in North African cities throughout time and in conjunction with population levels. Based on established patterns, and with the goal of driving future development in the right direction, a regionally responsive urban typology is to be developed. The chosen site for the building typology is one based purely on necessity of intervention. Due to recent revolutionary undertakings, the July 9th neighborhood in Misurata city, Libya, is used as an example to show how a new vision of a hybridized architectural intervention can prove to redefine how a city and its people relate to one another. This project looks to confront the problems of a region left destitute in the wake of war and destruction.