Palestinian architect Elias Khuri joins Tarwida Podcast to discuss architecture as an accumulation of people, places, histories, and knowledge. From his "Noon Insan" installation and his relationship with Elias Khoury and Kamal Boullata, to building around olive trees and restoring Khan Jaljulia, Khuri explores how architecture can preserve relationships with land and history without freezing them in place. He also reflects on the role of language in developing a contemporary Arab architectural vocabulary.
What makes a place feel like itself? In this episode of Tarwida, Palestinian architect Elias Khuri explores architecture as a layering of people, histories, nature, language, and memory.
We discuss his latest installation "Noon Insan," through which he reveals his connection to Palestinian writers and artists Elias Khoury and Kamal Boullata. What Boullata attempted to do visually, and what Elias Khoury attempted to do through language, Khuri is attempting to do through architecture.
Reflecting on several of his projects, including a house built around 12 ancient olive trees and his work on restoring the historic Khan Jaljulia, Khuri explains how a sense of place can be lost when buildings are separated from their surroundings as opposed to when they are built with what is already there.
Finally, Khuri revisits important features of Arab architecture that are increasingly disappearing with modern, capitalist modes of construction, including intimate third spaces such as the hosh and riwaq.
This episode was recorded on August 16th, 2026. You can watch it with English subtitles on YouTube here.
Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture, and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists, including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, and more, about their very own Palestine.
In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be.
This episode is hosted by Tala Elissa. Our associate producers are Zeena Shehadeh and Ahmed Ashour. Lead producer is Tala Elissa. Executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Social media by Lara Dihmis. Social media VO by Afaf Shawwa Bibi. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. Intro music by Terez Sliman.
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Relevant links & resources:
1:18 — Meet Elias Khuri: Becoming an Architect
3:41 — Mediterranean Architecture
4:27 — Noon: Elias’s favorite letter and its connection to Elias Khoury and Kamal Boullata
10:07 — Western vs. Arab Architecture
11:49 — Building Around 12 Olive Trees
16:50 — How Colonization Changed the Architecture of Palestine
19:43 — The Disappearance of the Hosh and Riwaq
23:12 — Restoring Khan Jaljulia
31:00 — Tanas and the Importance of a Shared Architectural Language