Fellows

Counterspace: Space Militarization - Fatma Hendawy

Fatma Hendawy ( Egypt )

This project investigates the ramifications of placing security buildings in the city centers with a focus on the BND Zentrale building and its surroundings in Berlin. Although locating this building within the premise of a residential neighborhood was considered a friendly attempt from the German Federal Intelligence Services towards transparency, it might have other purposes under what is called now “Military Urbanism.” The project opens the discourse for understanding the use of architecture and urban space as a tool to impose state sovereignty. The project is pinpointing the similarities between the militarized architecture and urban design -implemented in military residential complexes- and the current gentrified development projects in the city. How these militarized structures affect our daily lives and social norms? How far is the urban space militarized? With the current immigration flux, can we say that the city is shifting into a battlespace?