Domicide in Homs & Beyond | Architect Ammar Azzouz

About this episode

Architect Ammar Azzouz discusses the concept of domicide and its impact on Homs, Syria, focusing on the destruction of homes and the trauma of exile.

The concept of domicide and its profound impact on Homs, Syria, is explored through the work and personal experiences of architect Ammar Azzouz. A research fellow at the University of Oxford, Dr. Azzouz discusses the deliberate destruction of homes, the trauma of exile, and his eventual return to his homeland. He examines how international attention frequently prioritizes the loss of ancient heritage sites, such as Palmyra, while often overlooking the intimate grief associated with the destruction of residential areas where people lived their daily lives. The discussion also delves into the slow violence of pre-war urban projects, like the "Homs Dream", which proposed demolishing parts of the historic old city for modern development, and how these top-down models continue to threaten the city's identity during current reconstruction efforts.

People in this episode

Guest: Ammar Azzouz

Topics covered

• domicide
• urban development
• exile
• cultural heritage
• reconstruction
• trauma

Keywords

• domicide
• Homs
• Syria
• Ammar Azzouz
• urban projects
• cultural heritage
• exile
• reconstruction

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Oxford

Books & works: Homs Dream

Places: Homs, Syria, Palmyra

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