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E-topia: Insights, Reflections, and Proposals in the Context of Lebanon
The above theme served as the research agenda in the course Digital Rules, a seminar offered as an interdisciplinary elective to senior students at the American University of Beirut, in the Spring Term 2002. The course aimed at cultivating an understanding of the nature and potential of digital technologies and investigating the paradigm shifts necessary for their effective implementation in the realms of design, architecture, and urbanism.
The propositions put forward in e-topia: URBAN LIFE, JIM-BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT" (Mitchell, 2000), particularly those detailed in chapter 10, served as the framework for the student's investigation of the potential for e-topia in Lebanon. The course was attended by students from four different programs: Architecture, graphic Design, Urban Planning, and Computer and Communication Engineering.
This site contains the presentations of the student's term papers. Posting the work on the UNDP Lebanon web site is our way of contributing to the rich and dynamic debate of e-topia. It also is, we hope, a modest effort to inform people of some aspects of modern Lebanon. The student's presentations are listed below in alphabetical order:
E-GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES:case of Lebanon.
By Amer Al Dour (ama02@aub.edu.lb)
E-COMMUTING: making life easier in the City of Beirut, The Case for E-Banking.
By Lana Bdeir (lannoush@hotmail.com)
CULTURAL EXCHANGE NETWORK (CEN): Creating an Informating Urban Environment.
By Mohammad Rabi Chatila (mr_chatila@chatilapublishing.com)
PHYSICAL COMMUTING TO TELECOMMUTING: Working "Down The Wire" rather than "Down the Road."
By Zeina El Hoss (zoun_79@yahoo.com)
INFORMATING THE CITY: New approaches for signage and information dissemination in Beirut.
By Roula Ghalayini (hayed_ana@hotmail.com)
LEBANON'S INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE: Physical Infrastructure and Legislative Environment.
By Ayman Itani (aitani@terra.net.lb)
BEIRUT, A TALE OF 2 CITIES: Proposal for an Adaptive Transformation of Beirut City Center into an Intelligent Environment.
By Tracy Nasr (tracynasr@hotmail.com)
We welcome and look forward to feedback from the readers/viewers at large. Feedback may be directed to a specific student on their email (posted next to their names) or to the course instructor on the following address: kazzaz@aub.edu.lb.
The course was offered by Tarek Kazzaz, Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture and Design, in collaboration with Dean William Mitchell, of the School of Architecture and Planning at MIT. Through six videoconferencing sessions, 90 minutes each, Dean Mitchell addressed the class, responded to questions and queries, and guided and critiqued student's research and presentations.
This enriching educational experience was made possible through the generous support of Dean Mitchell, who gave of his knowledge, thoughts, and time, not to mention administrative support. It was also made possible through the generous support of the UNDP Country Office in Lebanon, and through them, the World Bank Country Office, who offered their technical support as well as videoconferencing facilities to help realize this experience.
The course group would like to acknowledge a number of individuals for their roles in realizing this experience. At MIT, Ms. Cynthia Wilkes, Assistant to the Dean, Mr. Kevin Kirwin and Mr. Rob Hawley, of AMPS. At the UNDP Lebanon Office, Mr. Yves de San, Resident Representative, Ms. Dima Al-Khatib, and Mr. Pierre Hamouche.
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Lebanon
