Prof Nasser Rabbat at MIT | Islamic Architecture & Urban Culture

In this episode of the afikra podcast, we're joined by professor Nasser Rabbat, the esteemed Aga Khan Professor and Director of the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at MIT. Prof Rabbat's rich expertise encompasses Islamic architecture, urban and Arab history, contemporary Arab art, heritage studies, and post-colonial criticism. Join us as we explore his profound insights and contributions to these fields through his extensive research and publications. 0:00 Introduction 1:16 Discovering a Passion for Architecture 4:07 Childhood Memories from Damascus 6:39 Unraveling the Essence of Islamic Architecture 12:28 Prof Rabbat's Journey in the 1980s & "The Citadel of Cairo" Study 22:18 Delving into "Mamluk History" 26:56 Prof Rabbat’s Philosophical Connection with Architecture 28:42 Addressing "The Destruction of Cultural Heritage" 33:49 Debates Around Historical Site Reconstruction 35:17 Quick Q&A 45:18 Future Historians’ Perspectives on Our Era 45:16 Monument Reconstruction Controversies 49:04 Exiled Artists’ Roles in Cultural Preservation 51:50 Essential Reads on Arab Architecture 55:29 Recommendations for Future afikra Guests Professor Nasser Rabbat is a globally recognized authority in the field of Islamic architecture and a leading voice in urban history and cultural heritage. At the helm of the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at MIT, Prof Rabbat’s academic career is marked by groundbreaking research that bridges the past and present of Islamic architectural practices. His work critically examines the narratives surrounding Islamic architecture, offering new perspectives on its definition, relevance, and impact on contemporary society. Connect with Nasser 👉   / nasserrabbat   Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉   / mikey_mu   FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast... » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1... » Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014... THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series:    • 🎙️ The afikra Podcast   ABOUT AFIKRA afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity. 📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters 🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts ⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership 🔗 Instagram:   / afikra_   🔗 Facebook:   / afikra.official   🔗 Twitter:   / afikra   #NasserRabbat #IslamicArchitecture #MITAgaKhanProgram #UrbanHistory #ArabHistory #ContemporaryArt #HeritageStudies #PostColonialCriticism #CulturalHeritage #ArchitectureConservation #afikra