ARCH 570GWorkshop: Sahel El Khiyam: A Design Vision for a Living Cultural Landscape

This course explores the agricultural plain “Sahel El Khiyam” in South Lebanon as an important cultural landscape shaped by the interaction between land, agricultural practices, and local communities. It approaches the Sahel as both a productive territory and a living heritage that supports local livelihoods. Through mapping and analytical tools, students will examine the spatial, environmental, and socio-economic dynamics that structure the plain, as well as the challenges it faces today. Attention is given to understanding how ecological systems and productive landscapes can be sustained and enhanced through design. In line with the Chaderji competition brief, participants are expected to propose a vision at the valley scale and illustrate this vision through one or more site-specific interventions that demonstrate how it can be spatially realized. The course places strong emphasis on design as a tool to respond to real community needs and local realities. It will guide students in developing coherent, context-driven design proposals that respond to local conditions while articulating a broader territorial vision. Final deliverables will be prepared for submission to the Chaderji competition. Passing Grade: D Pre-requisite: ARCH432 Design Studio VI