Rights of Future Generations (Arabic edition): Conditions

The environmental crisis is the result of a war against future generations, waged along social, technical, and mental lines. The Sharjah Architecture Triennial, titled Rights of Future Generations, includes commissioned works by architects, artists, activists, choreographers, and scientists examining sites of resistance, struggle, emancipation, and experimentation. The twenty-seven essays in Conditions chronicle architectures fundamental role in imagining other forms of coexistence.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 29 December 2022
Publisher: Hatje Cantz

The current environmental crisis is not a mere coincidence of history, but rather the culmination of a protracted war waged across social, technical, and mental fronts. This war is not against a specific generation, but rather against future generations. Climate change serves as a poignant symptom of the erasure of alternative perspectives on what it means to live and coexist. It is the inevitable outcome of a single, pathological mode of existence that dominates all others.

To understand the dynamics that sustain this state of affairs, we must delve into the ecologies that support and resist it. Which ecologies foster non-exploitative relationships between humans and other beings, both present and future? What conditions enable harmonious coexistence among those who inhabit the land, those who have passed on, and those yet to arrive?

At the core of these inquiries lies the intergenerational perspective. The Sharjah Architecture Triennial, titled Rights of Future Generations, presents commissioned works by architects, artists, activists, choreographers, and scientists exploring sites of resistance, struggle, emancipation, and experimentation. The twenty-seven essays featured in Conditions, the first of two volumes published in conjunction with the Triennial, chronicle some of these sites. From the spiritual geographies of trade in the Indian Ocean to the unwritten transmission of land title in the Ganges Delta, this book delves into the fundamental role of architecture in envisioning alternative forms of coexistence.

Through these narratives, we gain a deeper understanding of the intricate connections between architecture, society, and the natural world. We witness how architecture can be a powerful tool for shaping the future, fostering resilience, and promoting sustainable practices. We also recognize the importance of preserving and protecting these sites of resistance and experimentation, as they hold the potential for shaping a more inclusive and equitable world for generations to come.

ISBN-13: 9783775747042