YOU&ME in collaboration with Qatari architects Fatima Fawzy and Alaa Larri designed and organised a one-day pop-up exhibition event and lecture series, transforming an existing courtyard space in the run-down Al Najada area of Old Doha. The ‘Living Heritage’ event was a successful interactive and inclusive event which addressed a wide range of audiences and created a precedent of grass root bottom-up regeneration in Doha, promoting the value of heritage, culture and education in architecture.
The courtyard space, an enlarged sikkah, became a social point of gathering for one day, using a temporary canopy of 100 traditional straw weave eating mats. The mats were hung from a metal frame structure and on the ground plane 10 colourful recycled cable reel tables became plinths for the exhibits, creating a domestic environment on the street.
The exhibition showcased work by artists Ben Barbour, Aparna Jayakumar, Zoe Schoenherr, Ayaz Abdur Rauf and Habeeb Abu-Futtaim. The speakers were Dr Essam Ismail and Dr Robert Carter.
The project was supported by the British Council, Arts Council, Doha Architecture Forum and Qatar Museums.
