The Battle for Home by Marwa al-Sabouni

A very interesting book about the civil war in Syria, and an inspiring example of vision and determination in the face of great adversity.  

The author contends that the old architecture of the country once contributed to the unity of the nation, and that colonial and modern architecture sowed the seeds of the recent conflict.  

According to al-Sabouni, the old Syrian urban centres, such as Damascus, Aleppo and Homs - Homs being her home town - had grown organically, with various ethnic and religious groups living together as a single, integrated community.  Colonial and modern town planning, combined with industrialisation and urbanisation, tended to surround the old city centres with suburbs segregated on religious and ethnic lines.  This segregation first led to conflict, then to war.

Throughout the book, al-Sabouni interweaves her philosophical views on the role architecture plays in creating and sustaining community and culture with her analysis of how the war came about.  She also recounts the consequences the war has had on the population: civilian deaths, sectarian violence, the diaspora of refugees and the reduced circumstances of those who chose (or had no choice but) to stay in Syria.

The author's style is of the first order.  The narrative is lyrical, logical and crisp.  The reader is left in no doubt that there is a fine and decent mind at work.  Al-Sabouni has a vision for her ravaged country, and an optimism that a new architecture, incorporating the inclusiveness of the old, can not only rebuild her country's cities but its community as well.

Highly recommended.