Open Session #4: Hosted by AAU ANASTAS

Elias and Yousef Anastas from AAU ANASTAS and Radio alHara present an immersive installation of assembled images and videos, accompanied by a live sound piece to share their commitment to the construction and defense of architectural space through their Bethlehem-based practices. Through architecture, sonic exploration, collaborative gathering, and fostering communities of cultural production, they aim to connect the specific contextual conditions of place to global solidarity networks. The Anastas brothers will convene guests for an evening of knowledge building through modes of sensory experience.

Elias and Yousef Anastas are partners at AAU ANASTAS architects, co-founders of Local Industries, co-founders of Radio alHara, and co-founders of the Wonder Cabinet. The studio focuses on tying links between crafts and architecture at scales that vary from furniture design to territorial explorations, and have been advocating for a contemporary use of structural stone in architecture in Palestine and elsewhere. They are particularly interested in the politics of stone use for low carbon footprint structures, more resilient cities and more responsible quarries’ exploitation. Elias and Yousef co-founded Radio alHara, a community based online radio that weaves unconventional nets of solidarities through sonic experiences. Most recently they have launched the Wonder Cabinet, a space-based initiative in Bethlehem for cultural productions that gathers a community of artisans and artists, technical and artistic realms in the aim of producing a culture of global provincialism.