Tag Archives: Middle East

Paris of the Middle East

Posted on August 16, 2020 by David Brussat

It’s been several decades since Beirut was commonly known as the Paris of the Middle East. The recent explosion, which devastated the port and wreaked serious damage on nearby central areas of the city, only adds to its problems – … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Trip to Old City, Jerusalem

Posted on May 22, 2017 by David Brussat

Here, from GlobeTrotter Alpha, is a 15-minute video of the Old City, Jerusalem, capital of Israel, with its Jewish, Muslim, Armenian and other sections, including the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Big events there today. Most … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Behead the Islamic State

Posted on August 29, 2015 by David Brussat

It may have been the beheading of Khalid al-Asaad, known as Mr. Palmyra, a retired professor and protector of antiquities at Palmyra, that pushed me over the edge a few days ago, and I’ve been mulling the idea with further … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Books and Culture, Other countries, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

‘The Hidden Light of Objects’

Posted on February 14, 2015 by David Brussat

The fragility of culture, even of culture wrought in the hardness of masonry, is one of the themes of the ten short stories in Mai Al-Nakib’s first book, The Hidden Light of Objects. The second story, “Echo Twins,” is set … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Books and Culture, Development, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment