Conflict in Cities is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council of Great Britain (grant number: RES-060-25-0015)
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Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge
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The Cambridge and Exeter teams have undertaken a joint research trip to Jerusalem (30th March-9th April). The field trip concentrated on the research modules J1 (“Impact of the Separation barrier’) and J2 (‘Holy City/Holy Places’). The research within J1 focused on three broad areas indicated by the phenomena observed: privatisation and security; mobility and new spatial formations; and institutional support and emerging new structures. The research of J2 focused on the emerging themes of Israeli Settler appropriation of Palestinian old city properties, the politicization of cultural heritage and archaeological excavations and the spatial practice and interaction of religious communities around the holy places. Data was drawn from visits and visual surveys of contentious sites, such as Al-Wad Street and the public interface surrounding the Damascus Gate and the ongoing renovation and excavations of the Ohel Yitzhak synagogue. Time was also given to examine sites on the periphery of the city and to assess the impact of the separation barrier on communal interfaces, population movement and economic life. Primary research also included a series of interviews with a wide range of Israeli and Palestinian academics, activists and social actors, as well as international analysts and commentators.
