At Œcumene, we believe in the transformative power of knowledge. Our work is rooted in the idea that informed, engaged communities are the foundation of sustainable development and empowerment. As a hub for knowledge transfer and intermediation, we serve as a catalyst for positive change, empowering individuals and communities to shape their destinies.

Our approach combines research, education, and outreach, facilitating the flow of knowledge from academic institutions and other sources of expertise to the communities we serve. By demystifying complex ideas and translating them into actionable strategies, we help communities navigate the challenges they face and harness the opportunities they encounter.

Public Space Academy / Keynote Lecture by Insaf Ben Othmane Hamrouni

This webinar explores how cultural narratives and histories shape how individuals and communities interact with the public realm, particularly within the Middle East and North Africa region.

Comprendre les inondations au Congo - Engumba Makasi

Dans cette session, le Professeur Kisangala explore en profondeur les inondations au Congo, en discutant de leur nature, de leurs causes, de leurs impacts et des mesures de prévention. Ce webinaire fait partie du projet Oecumene Spaces For Dignity “Engumba Makasi”, qui vise à développer des plans de résilience pour gérer les catastrophes à Kinshasa.

Ways of Worldmaking: Insaf ben Othmane Hamrouni

Insaf ben Othmane Hamrouni joins the series Ways of Worldmaking at Virginia Tech

Kick-off Webinar Fusha

Saoudi Arabia that aims to reshape the urban habitat through collaborative design and art. This urban living lab is an immersive experience to co-create inclusive and vibrant urban narratives.

LOUDREADERS Session 15: Insaf ben Othmane Hamrouni​

Insaf Ben Othmane loudreads Gramsci, Said, and letters by refugees – Loudreader

Social Integration - with Insaf ben Othmane Hamrouni

The Forced Displacement and Urban Management Conference 2021 welcomes the public, students, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to exchange knowledge on international forced migration in urban context. 

Intelligence collective et participation citoyenne / Accepting the paradox of planning the unplanned

Nous étions heureux de faire partie de ce webinaire dédié à l’urbanisme participatif organisé par Ateliers d’Alger – ورش العاصمة – ⵜⵉⵏⴻⵎⵙⴰⵍ  ⵏ  ⴷⵣⴰⵢⴻⵔ une équipe formidable qui oeuvre pour la participation citoyenne et le droit à la ville. 
 

Lelkol Webinar Series 1

The Arab city: social and cultural aspects of public spaces in the MENA region Prepared and presented By FRANCESCO POLESELLO – Architect & Urban Designer, Associate Professor. 2- Transforming City and Public Spaces through Placemaking RONY JALKH – Founder of PlacemakingMena & placemaking expert

Lelkol Webinar Series 2​

Public art initiates people to act, react, interact and reflect on daily hassles and concerns. Can art contribute to improve the world? Can it help change mentalities? Rania Halawi – Curator & Art Manager is asking these questions through “Placing Art pieces in Public spaces” projects in Lebanon. With Billy Aboujaoude problemetizing the role of Architect in planning on bringing people together through installation art experiences, created at neglected attractions or left remote spaces in Lebanon through RIHAB is and ART TOURISM PROJECT

Lelkol Webinar Series 3​

Lecture 1: The story of Kawkaba is an ancient village in Lebanon’s southwest Bekaa region, proud of its historical vestiges and authentic community. With around a thousand inhabitants, Kawkaba faced the settlement of a similar number of Syrian refugees during the war.

Lecture 2: Placemaking and Rebuilding Collective Identity emphasizes the importance of reactivating public spaces to foster inclusivity and knowledge exchange. Reem Bou Hamdan, a Lebanese architect, delves into the concept of Placemaking to create a platform where diverse communities feel at home in the city.

Lelkol Webinar Series 4​

Lecture 1: Olfa BEN MEDIEN explores Greater Tunis’s public spaces, testing them for sustainability and integration. As an architect and urban researcher, she contributes significantly to the field, holding key roles in research and academic institutions.

Lecture 2: Layla Zibar delves into Circular Economy, refugeehood, and placemaking in Iraqi Kurdistan with a focus on Syrian Refugee Camps. As an urban researcher and PhD candidate, her interests lie in Forced Migration and political geographies of space.

ArchitectureForChange Œcumene Spaces For NudgingLimitations 1

  1. Rasha Arous – Urban planner with Aga Khan Trust for Culture, specializes in rehabilitation projects in old cities.

  2. Shirley Rodrigues Sampaio – Humanitarian officer, dedicated to creating child-friendly spaces in Kawergosk refugee camp.

  3. Alejandro Javier Collia – Founder of Global & Local, working on sustainable and resilient cities. Former Executive Secretary for Human Rights in Argentina.

ArchitectureForChange Œcumene Spaces For NudgingLimitations 2

  1. WAI Architecture Think Tank – A planetary studio founded by Cruz Garcia and Nathalie Frankowski, questioning the legacy of architecture and urbanism through critical engagement.

  2. Layla Zibar – Ph.D. candidate with a background in Urban Design and Community Development, working on participatory projects for disadvantaged groups and contributing to spatial upgrading and urban interventions.

Creative forum: The Spaces We Co create, The Spaces We Are

Our values, our history, and our aspirations are reflected in the design of our environments, from the way we arrange our furniture to the layout of our streets. In spite of the fact that there is no one-size-fits-all design, creating space is a group endeavor that is the result of interactions between people and the negotiation of power, resources and memories. To be successful, the design of a place should consider these complex factors.

The right to the city

This video was made by Sara Essam, as an opening for her lecture at ArchitectureForchange Genius tempos 2 who took place in Alexandria at the French institut in 2017

ElHouma Khir - Social interaction

Interaction with space users – Community mobilization phase. To learn more, visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ElHOUMAKHIR/

Elhouma Khir - Voices for inhabitants

Interaction with inhabitants – Mobilisation of local community Phase.

Elhouma Khir - Voice of the expert

In many existing public spaces, poor management, design, and limited diversity of usage result in temporary use by only a few festivals and events throughout the year. There is a need to connect youth to their cities, empowering them to revitalize and question the concept of public spaces, laying the foundation for a local strategy to create inclusive public spaces in various contexts with the involvement of the community.

El Houma Khir - Space Appropriation

About people, usage, sense of appropriation in the Medina of Tunis. 

Elhouma Khir - C'est quoi l'espace public Médina de Tunis

L’espace public c’est l’échange , c’est le publique, c’est le commun de tous. 

What is architecture ? 1

Architects Offer a Glimpse into Architecture – Arch.Yasmine Taher

What is architecture? 2

Architects Offer a Glimpse into Architecture – Arch.Anan Abo Mera

What is architecture ? 3

Architects Offer a Glimpse into Architecture – Arch. Layla Zibar

What is architecture? 4

Architects Offer a Glimpse into Architecture – Arch. Salah abbas

What is architecture? 5

Architects Offer a Glimpse into Architecture – Arch.Mohamed Amine

What is architecture? 6​

Architects Offer a Glimpse into Architecture – Arch.Gasser M. Youssef

What is architecture? 7

Architects Offer a Glimpse into Architecture – Arch.Muhammed Abbas

For Those without a Place - Spaces of Antifragility - Siwa Oasis

“#Heritage is, should be anything inherited from the past that helps us collectively, or individually to understand the present, and create a better future. ” Those were the words insaf Ben othmane Hamrouni shared with us, in her inspiring and thought-provoking lecture about Œcumene Spaces For Dignity SIWI Project in #Siwa located in #Egypt. Insaf shared with us the challenges that face the Siwian community in maintaining their #identity and #localheritage as a #territorialcommunity leading to a fragile situation. She also highlights the tremendous efforts that local community leaders, artists, and initiatives are working hard to #reconfigure tools to safe-keep their history. 

Woujoud Tyre​

Woujoud is a project initiated by Œcumene Spaces For Dignity with PlacemakingMena and in partnership with local key actors. This project is supported by the French Embassy in Lebanon and the French Cultural Centre.

LAUNCH - 2022 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT FOR BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION

Official Press Conference

Urban Tinkering

Oecumene Studio stands at the forefront of innovative urban solutions, exemplifying the principles of urban tinkering. As a collaborative studio, we embrace a multi-disciplinary approach, bringing together professionals, academics, and community members to co-create sustainable urban futures. Our space functions as an urban living lab, a dynamic environment where real-world challenges meet groundbreaking ideas. Here, theories transition into tangible solutions, ensuring cities evolve responsively, resiliently, and inclusively for all inhabitants.

Redefining belonging, art and complexity in a changing world

Oecumene Spaces For Dignity Company Limited By Guarantee - N°697296 OFFICE 2, 12A LOWER MAIN STREET, LUCAN CO. DUBLIN

Meaning of Oecumene

The ecumene (US) or oecumene (UK; Greek: οἰκουμένη, oikouménē, lit. “inhabited”) was an ancient Greek term for the known world, the inhabited world, or the habitable world.

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marhaba@oecumene-spacesfordignity.org

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