Architecture of Coexistence: Building Pluralism This book investigates how architecture can shape an open-minded and inclusive society, highlighting three internationally renowned projects: the White Mosque in Visoko, Bosnia-Herzegovina (1980); the Islamic Cemetery Altach in Altach, Austria (2012); and the Superkilen public park in Copenhagen, Denmark (2012). Scholarly essays across various disciplines, along with interviews with the architects and users of these projects, provide intriguing insights into architecture's ability to bridge cultural differences. Soliciting a wide array of questions about migration, transculturalism, visibility, inclusion, and exclusion, the book sheds light on the long-term social processes generated between architectural form and its users. Architecture of Coexistence offers a truly interdisciplinary perspective on a very timely subject: "Building pluralism" means designing for a respectful inclusion of different cultural needs, practices, and traditions. With contributions by Azra Aksamija, Mohammad al-Asad, Ali S. Asani, Simon Burtscher-Matis, Amila Buturovic, Farrokh Derakhshani, Robert Fabach, Eva Grabherr, Amra Hadzimuhamedovic, Tina Gudrun Jensen, Jennifer Mack, Nasser Rabbat, Barbara Steiner, Helen Walasek and Wolfgang Welsch. Photo essays by Velibor Bozovic, Cemal Emden, Jesper Lambaek, and Nikolaus Walter.

"A well-written and much-needed survey of contemporary architectural projects in the Arab world. The book represents a valuable, sincere, and much-needed effort to address a gap in the literature as it relates to the built environment in the Middle East. In addition to presenting a select set of projects, the author provides an insightful and concise critique setting them within the larger context of the region."--Yasser Elsheshtawy, United Arab Emirates University"An important document that catalogues and illustrates the last decade of architectural projects and buildings in countries of the Middle East and Arabian Gulf region."--Salma Samar Damluji, author of "The Architecture of Yemen "Beginning at the end of the first Gulf War, the Middle East entered a new era of architectural and urban development defined by increased levels of globalization and private sector investment. In the decade that followed, the region was home to a wealth of architectural projects that challenged conventional thinking about architecture and the Middle East itself.
Mohammad al-Asad provides an in-depth examination of an abundance of these projects, from homes and schools to hotels and religious centers. "Contemporary Architecture and Urbanism in the Middle East" examines the economic, political, and cultural context in which the projects were created. The book's photographs bring attention to previously unaddressed aspects of modern Arabic architecture, highlighting local talent emerging throughout the region.

Today’s urban environments face ever-increasing flows of human movement, natural disasters, and iterative economic crises. In response, city planning has developed innovative, hybrid forms that go beyond conventional ways of planning. Integrating practices of other disciplines, planning has become increasingly intricate and at the same time dependent on the cross fertilization of data, ideas, and actions across economies, societies, and geographies.This richly illustrated book of edited essays aims at introducing new approaches towards the planning of cities across the world, including Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia. Covering demographically, politically, culturally, and socially diverse regions, it not only examines the use of conventional planning tools, but also explores more experimental and cross-disciplinary approaches of urban planning.