Author: Antonis Vradis

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Featured Latest from the Lab Projects

The Forced Space: an architectural and human narrative during the war in Gaza (Hussein Naim, RUL-Gaza Fellow)

RUL is immensely proud to virtually host Hussein Naim, a Gaza-based Palestinian architect and multidisciplinary artist, as its inaugural RUL-Gaza Fellow for 2025-26. Hussein’s research explores themes of forced displacement, crisis urbanism, and the spatial consequences of war. He has led several community-based artistic initiatives, including “Reviving Memory”, a visual arts project modelling Palestinian cities under occupation, and “The Coloured History of Palestine”, a mosaic-based initiative that reconstructs collective memory in destroyed neighbourhoods. As part of his Fellowship, Hussein will be working on the Forced Space project below, partaking in all RUL activities as well as joining, and presenting at our School’s seminar series (dates tbc).

1. Introduction & Context

The war on Gaza has not only devastated its urban fabric but also redefined the very notion of space. In conditions of protracted siege, forced displacement, and relentless bombardment, the built environment becomes a stage for both survival and loss.

This research builds upon the concept of “forced space” (al-hayyiz al-qasri), a spatial condition imposed by violence, where architecture is shaped by necessity rather than design. Gaza’s urban landscape during the war offers a unique case study for examining how spatial constraints, displacement camps, and destroyed neighborhoods collectively transform human experience and architectural form.

2. Research Idea

The project aims to investigate the architectural and human dimensions of “forced space” as they emerge in Gaza during wartime. It will explore how architecture, both formal and improvised, mediates between survival needs and social identity.

This includes:

  • Mapping the transformation of public and private spaces into shared shelters, aid distribution points, and makeshift infrastructures
  • Documenting the material and spatial improvisations by residents, particularly women, who create productive spaces amidst displacement
  • Analysing how forced space alters social relations, mobility patterns, and collective memory

The research will merge spatial analysis with oral histories, producing a layered narrative that combines maps, architectural drawings, and testimonies.

3. Motivation

While much has been written about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the architectural dimension of displacement has received little systematic attention. Existing studies often treat space as a static backdrop, rather than as an active, evolving participant in the lived experience of war.

This research is motivated by three core objectives:

  1. To fill a critical gap in documenting architecture as a human and ethical practice during armed conflict
  2. To explore how design principles can emerge from necessity, improvisation, and resilience under extreme duress
  3. To contribute to both academic discourse and practical guidelines for architects, urban planners, and humanitarian agencies working in similar crisis contexts

4. Methodology

  • Case Studies: Detailed examination of multiple displacement sites across Gaza, including urban shelters, tented camps, and repurposed public buildings

To the extent that the situation on the ground permits, the methodology might also include:

  • Field Interviews: Collecting oral histories from residents, with attention to gender-specific spatial adaptations, especially by women who reconfigure spaces for domestic, social, and economic purposes
  • Spatial Mapping: Using architectural drawings, GIS mapping, and photographic documentation to trace spatial transformations over time

The project will adhere to ethical research standards, ensuring anonymity and informed consent for all participants.

5. Outputs

  • Academic Paper: A peer-reviewed article for journals in architecture, urban studies, and humanitarian research

It is envisaged that in a later stage, this can be used to develop a series of future outputs in return, including:

  • Atlas of Forced Space: A visual and textual compendium of spatial conditions in Gaza during the war, combining maps, diagrams, and narratives
  • Design Guidelines: A practical handbook for designing humane, adaptive, and culturally sensitive shelters in contexts of forced displacement
  • Exhibition: An interactive exhibition integrating architectural models, photographic series, and recorded testimonies, aimed at engaging both academic and public audiences

6. Expected Contribution

This research will deepen the understanding of how architecture operates under extreme duress, not merely as a physical shelter, but as a vessel for identity, memory, and resilience. It will provide an evidence-based framework that humanitarian agencies and architects can adapt in designing post-crisis environments.

By centering Gaza’s experience, the project also preserves an essential architectural memory at risk of being erased by both physical destruction and historical neglect.

Ultimately, the study aims to transform the narrative of Gaza from one of passive victimhood to one of active spatial agency, demonstrating how even in the most constrained conditions, communities shape their environments to reflect dignity, identity, and hope.

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Blog Featured Latest from the Lab

Call for Applications: virtual RUL-GAZA Fellowship 

Introduction & Purpose

The Radical Urban Lab (RUL) at the University of St Andrews, United Kingdom, is inviting applications for a Virtual Fellowship for a postgraduate (Masters level up) Palestinian scholar from Gaza, to join us for one term during the Academic Year 2025/26. This Fellowship is developed in collaboration with the Emergency Committee of Universities in Gaza (including representatives from IUG, Al-Aqsa, and Al-Azhar Universities) and draws on a model of support outlined in the FOBZU (Friends of Birzeit University) Guide for UK-Palestinian Higher Education collaboration.

Potential Fields of Research:

Examples could include (but not limited to) one or a combination of

  • Urban studies
  • Decolonial thought
  • Genocide & scholasticide studies
  • Social & environmental justice
  • Critical cultural geography

Fellowship Benefits

  • A stipend of £1,500
  • Personalised mentorship and guidance from the RUL members
  • Invitations to RUL meetings and access to all our internal resources
  • Opportunities to collaborate with a global network of scholars and practitioners through RUL
  • Support to produce an independent piece of research, for example an article, blog post or any other creative output, such as a short film, podcast, or a photo collection.
Duration & Structure

Three months during one of the two terms of the Academic year 2025/26 (start date to be decided together with the successful applicant)

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should:

  • Be a Palestinian national currently residing in, or having recently moved from Gaza; 
  • Be a postgraduate student enrolled in, or have recently graduated from, a public university in Gaza — such as Al-Azhar University, the Islamic University of Gaza, or Al-Aqsa University — or from one of their affiliated colleges, such as the University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS), Al-Azhar Intermediate Studies College, Al-Aqsa Community College for Intermediate Studies, or other similar institutions;
  • Demonstrate a strong interest in critical research related to urban issues, decolonisation, and/or social justice.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit the following to [email protected] by August 15, 2025. Any conventional file format (.doc, .pdf) or links to your work would be accepted:

  • A CV (1-2 pages);
  • A research proposal (up to 700 words) including an outline of the research idea, its motivation, and its potential outputs. This can be a new idea OR a project the Fellow is already currently working on, and we acknowledge the project can change along the course of the Fellowship.
  • A sample of previous work or writing. 

Timeline

  • Applications open: July 15, 2025
  • Applications close: August 15, 2025
  • Selection and notification of candidates: August 30, 2025
  • Fellowship start date: After September 16, 2025 – to be confirmed with the successful candidate.
Selection Criteria 

Applications will be evaluated based on:

  • Clarity, feasibility, and quality of the proposed research. 
  • Commitment and motivation to personal scholarly development. 
  • Willingness to contribute to the Gazan collective efforts in resisting the ongoing scholasticide. 
  • Alignment with the values and work of the Radical Urban Lab. 
About the Fellowship Provider

The Radical Urban Lab (RUL) is an interdisciplinary research collective based at the School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews. RUL is committed to supporting critical scholarship on urbanisation, decolonisation, and social justice. This Fellowship is offered in partnership with public universities in Gaza, as part of a shared commitment to academic solidarity and resistance against scholasticide.

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Blog Featured Latest from the Lab

RUL proudly presents: Sustainable, Inclusive and Just Cities, Vol.3

The Radical Urban Lab is delighted to present the third volume of Sustainable, Inclusive and Just Cities: an enormous, collective endeavour undertaken by the Hons students of the eponymous module (SD4116) for the academic year 2024-25! Building on the work of the previous years, this year’s incredible cohort brings you a stunning collection of struggle and hope from urban communities the world over, reaching previously unexplored regions, and always bringing the message of community, perseverance, and hope. Enjoy!

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Featured Latest from the Lab Reports

RUL Report #3.4 Why you should know Basaglia’s revolution

Why you should know Franco Basaglia: Italy is famous for one of the most important revolutions in the field of mental health. In 1978, a law was passed by the Italian Government that resulted in the closure of all mental health asylums. The powerful experience of activism started from a mental health asylum in Gorizia was instrumental in the passing of this law. The action was led by Franco Basaglia, an Italian psychiatrist, and his group. Basaglia was supported by a large grass-root movement consisting of mental health workers, intellectuals, patients and families, leftist activists and regular citizens.

Franco Basaglia was one of the most important intellectuals of the country in which I was born and grew up, and his experience as a psychiatrist shaped my thoughts and ideals on the meaning of being a mental health professional. Despite its importance, I became familiar with his work only after graduation. There is a clear blind spot in Italian academia on the fundamental role that Franco Basaglia played in the development of contemporary psychiatry. There are many explanations for the oblivion of this relevant political experience: Franco Basaglia was a radical critic of the institutions. He brought a radical vision of psychiatry as a discipline into the academic discourse, highlighting its political dimension, and criticizing the abuse of power and control by medical institutions. Despite widespread support from grassroots movements and civil society Franco Basaglia faced strong opposition from institutional psychiatry and Academia and, which prevented Basaglia’s group from fully achieving their goals.

RUL Report 3.4 – CampanellaDownload
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Featured Latest from the Lab Reports

RUL Report #3.3 The future of cycling in Kigali: Climate change and socio-economic factors

With climate change on the rise, ensuring sustainable cities has become increasingly important. The normalisation of cycling as an active form of mobility has been increasingly supported as a way to combat climate change. This research explores the role of cycling in Kigali, Rwanda, to extend the geographical scope of the academic literature to the Global South, which is currently lacking. The aim of this research was to explore the future development of cycling in the city, focusing primarily on weather and socio-economic factors. This was achieved through a survey of 82 cyclists in Kigali and interviews with 5 key actors. This dissertation finds that weather plays an important role in shaping cycling habits but is currently secondary to socio-economic status. In order to ensure the future development of cycling in the city and to avoid becoming a car-centric city, the City of Kigali needs to improve cycling infrastructure and change attitudes to ensure that cycling remains attractive and that Kigali achieves its Master Plan goals.

RUL Report 3.3 – BesnierDownload

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Blog Featured Latest from the Lab Projects Protomagia

Art, politics and dissent in Plateia Protomagias: a documentary by the DtC collective (Sofia Makavou, Anna Papoutsi, Antonis Vradis)

Public space in Athens today is under attack: whether by way of rampant commercialisation, privatisation, policing or surveillance, the character of public space is undergoing a rapid, violent and unprecedented transformation. In the years since the pandemic, the city’s public spaces (parks, hills or squares) have been targeted by the authorities as targets to be pacified, and by developers as an area of potential profit. In addition, the city’s metro expansion (line 4) has commenced, meaning the long-term fencing off of some of the capital’s most emblematic and central squares (Exarcheia, Protomagias, Kolonaki, among others). Against this backdrop, authorities at all scales (municipal, prefecture, national) are exerting ever-more control over who has access to public space, and for what kind of use: event licensing, previously nearly-unheard of, is quickly becoming the norm; private enterprises are given scandalous ‘rights’ to trample over public thoroughfares, and ever-increasing policing targets already marginalised communities disproportionately. 

Migration and public space in Athens are deeply intertwined and reflect broader socio-political tensions and struggles over belonging, visibility, and rights. The city has long been a hub for migrants, especially from SWANA, and their presence in the city’s squares, streets, and parks is constantly reshaping urban life and space. Spaces such as Victoria Square, Exarcheia and Protomagias square have long functioned as sites of both solidarity and contestation, where migrants establish social networks, access support, and assert their right to the city. However, these spaces are also subject to policing, securitisation, and periodic invisibilisation and displacement, as state authorities and far-right groups seek to curtail migrant presence. Amidst austerity, rising xenophobia, and shifting migration policies, grassroots initiatives and solidarity movements continue to challenge exclusionary practices, transforming public spaces into arenas of resistance, care, and alternative forms of urban citizenship. 

The documentary explores public space in Athens today, how it is used everyday but also as a space for politics, dissent and art and by whom. We ask: is urban public space really public? Is it ever really free and open to all? Who has access, when, under what conditions and who controls access? What are the immediate and long-term implications? We take the example of Plateia Protomagias, one of the last remaining open spaces in the city. We consider it open in the sense that it has not entirely been ‘eaten up’ by Attiko Metro works. Surrounded by corrugated steel, it still is the last refuge everyday for many of the residents of the centre, and especially the overpopulated neighbourhoods of Kipseli, Patisia, Exarcheia, Gkizi and Poligono. It is also the space where many cultural and art events take place during the spring and summer months, as well as gigs and political discussions. Embarking from our own experience of co-organising a music festival with African street musicians in September 2024, we problematise the processes (internal and external) and discussions that we went through with regards to acquiring the Municipality’s permission to hold the festival there. We discuss between us and with other groups and individuals who made similar attempts, with or without permission, successful or not.

Decolonising the City (DtC) is a collective of researchers and film-makers that formed out of the namesake USF project, working on urban public space and migration, using visual and participatory methodologies.

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Blog Featured Latest from the Lab Reports

RUL Report #3.2. Conceptualising ‘creative resistance’ — Urban art, social cohesion, and political commentary

The contemporary city, though heterogeneous from context to context, is an enigma for the twenty-first-century geographer — cities serve as sites of socio-spatial exchange, as hubs of modernisation, and as agglomerates of people, all with differing visions of change and progress (Fuchs, 2012). Cities also act as meeting points between scales, as places of interaction between national, regional, and municipal decision-makers and their constituencies, which are themselves fraught with differences along cultural and demographic lines (Shatkin, 2007).


Therefore, it is within the city fabric and its constellation of stakeholders that inequality and conflict emerge, especially as cities become increasingly tethered to a global capitalist economy (Pinson and Journel, 2016). Understandably, the question that twenty-first-century researchers and policy-makers face is how to resist urban inequality. In the following work, I propose an alternative, and indeed more radical, form of resistance that hinges on the harnessing of creativity — especially artistic expression. In a growing body of scholarship that highlights this urban creative resistance, authors make a point of differentiating between ‘urban art,’ ‘street art,’ and ‘graffiti.’ in this report, I tend to use ‘urban art’ — a broader “umbrella term” that better encapsulates the various motives and media practised by artists, as well as their differing styles, narratives, histories, and geographies (Radosevic, 2013, p. 7). I also feel that ‘urban art’ avoids the murky and pejorative connotations of ‘graffiti,’ which is often synonymised with vandalism, lawlessness, and the dissolution of social order — all pre-conceptions that this work hopes to dispel.

McGarrahan – RUL Report 3.2Download

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Featured Latest from the Lab Reports

RUL Report #3.1. An Analysis of Energy Politics in Lebanon and the Effect on Decentralised Community-Owned Energy Movements

24-hour electricity has not been accessible to Lebanese citizens since the end of the civil war in 1990 (Saghir et al., 2022). Lebanon’s energy crisis, rooted in political mismanagement and corruption has only worsened since the 2019 economic downturn, which as described by the World Bank, is one of the worst economic crises since the 1850s (World Bank, 2021). Lebanese citizens have taken the energy crisis into their own hands and supplement Electricité du Liban (EDL) or government-provided energy through diesel power generators and renewable energy. The citizens themselves have initiated a green energy transition, not for the desire to live more sustainably, but out of pure necessity. As a result, domestic solar energy production in Lebanon has increased tenfold over the last decade (Haytayan, 2023).

I think it is clear here that communities across Lebanon are more than capable of taking action regardless of the several political, social, and environmental crises happening around them. This understanding inspired my last piece of work on the energy crisis in Lebanon where I outlined a decentralised micro-grid community-owned solar panel system as my suggested solution (Machaca, 2024). Essentially, the paper looked at designing a solution an urban community could use to address a problem they were facing. This piece of work made a point of empowering the community without political involvement. However, political actors will always play an important role, whether that is a positive, or in this case a negative role. After finishing that paper, I was left eager to understand the past and present energy politics in Lebanon in order to analyse how political action will affect community-led initiatives like the one I had developed. Thus, this paper looks to summarise the past, present, and future of energy policy in Lebanon, to develop a more informed understanding of how this affects community-owned renewable energy systems.

Machaca – RUL report 3.1Download

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Blog Featured Latest from the Lab

RUL Sustainable Cities Art Competition

Welcome to the RUL Sustainable Cities Art Competition!

This competition is your opportunity to showcase your creativity and imagination while contributing to the conversation on building sustainable cities. We invite you to explore how cities can be greener, more inclusive, and connected through your artwork.

Themes and Guidelines

Competition Themes

We encourage you to explore the following themes through your artwork

● Green Innovation: Explore eco-friendly solutions and green technologies in urban spaces.

● Community Connection: Reimagine cities as inclusive, accessible, and vibrant places for all.

Accepted Forms of Art

We welcome submissions in the following formats:

● Visual Art: Paintings, drawings, or mixed media pieces.

● Photographs: Capture the beauty of sustainability in your city, or through collages.

● Digital Art: Use technology to create futuristic urban designs.

● 3D Projects: Submit sculptures or urban models (photographed for submission).

Winning Categories

1. Green Innovation Award ○ Awarded for the most inventive ideas incorporating green technology and eco-friendly solutions into urban spaces.

2. Community Connection Award ○ Celebrates artwork that emphasises social sustainability and reimagines cities as inclusive communities for all.

3. People’s Choice Award ○ Voted on by the community, this award recognizes the artwork that resonates most with the public.

How to Participate

1. Create Your Artwork: Use one of the accepted formats to explore the themes of sustainable cities.

2. Submit Your Work: Deadline is the 20th of January 2024

3. Engage in the Voting Process: For the People’s Choice Award, entries will be showcased for community voting.

Your art matters

The winning pieces will be featured as part of the RUL website. By participating, you’ll contribute to a vital conversation about urban sustainability and help shape the vision of sustainable cities.

Need some inspo?

No problem, check out @staradicalurbanlab on instagram to get your creativity flowing, Deadline is the 20th of January 2024 at 12:00

Please submit your work using this link:

https://forms.gle/XKZsZXFVqumoZrqu7

For any further questions please email [email protected], or contact us on instagram @staradicalurbanlab.

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Radical Urban Lab statement on departing X platform (formerly Twitter)

RUL Depart

As a research lab committed to social justice, equity, and informed public discourse, Radical Urban Lab has decided to leave the X platform (formerly Twitter). This decision comes after careful consideration and stems from our deep concerns about the platform’s role in amplifying disinformation, hate speech, and perpetuating a toxic digital environment.

At Radical Urban Lab, we reject the notion that technology is neutral. We recognize that all major tech platforms are designed to serve the interests of data capitalism, prioritizing profit through surveillance, algorithmic manipulation, and the commodification of user data. When digital platforms are in private hands, the integrity of public discourse is inevitably compromised. However, recent changes on X have pushed the platform beyond a critical threshold.

The platform’s shift in content moderation, weakened verification systems, and its disregard for accountability have transformed it into a space hostile to inclusive and constructive dialogue. Recent restrictions on what data streams are available to watchdogs and researchers – especially through changes to its API – has not only diminished transparency but has also created a hostile environment for researchers, making it harder to track upticks in extremism and hate speech.

Compounding this issue is Elon Musk’s erratic and ideological behaviour, including the promotion of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, ‘the great replacement’ ideas, and white supremacy thinking. By pushing reactionary and far-right views to the mainstream, Musk has further contributed to the platform’s transformation into a space that normalizes neo-Nazi extremism.

In the name of ‘free speech’, neo-Nazi and fascist propagandists run rampant on the X platform, often boosted to the ‘For You’ tab or receiving ‘verified status’ which both legitimates and commodifies their violent ideological campaigns. X continues to profit through subscription fees from pro-Nazi accounts and by running advertisements on those accounts or adjacent to the pro-Nazi content. 

This supportive social media environment can give a sense of validation to hate speech and help far-right and neo-Nazi groups recruit more people. The spread of fake news and Islamophobic narratives in X during the violent anti-immigration riots in the UK in 2024 is an example of this strategy, which contributed to the escalation of violence towards ethnic minorities and migrants.

Furthermore, the introduction of the platform’s new AI tool, the chatbot Grok, deepens our concerns. Grok’s lack of transparency in data use, potential for bias, and ability to technologically amplify disinformation makes it a dangerous tool antagonistic to public reason. Grok risks becoming a weapon of Psychological Operations (PsyOp) warfare to manipulate public discourse, reinforce harmful ideologies, and distort facts.

We believe that any platform must be responsible for maintaining a balance between open dialogue and protecting the safety and dignity of its users. X has crossed this line, and we can no longer engage with a platform that perpetuates political bias and enables toxic, harmful and anti-social behaviour.

Radical Urban Lab will continue to push the boundaries of knowledge production on platforms and in spaces that prioritize accuracy, equity, and the collective well-being of all communities.

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