Assistant Professor Anwar Jaber recently presented at the Architectural Humanities Research Association’s (AHRA) 22nd Annual International Conference, held at the University of Liverpool, UK. The conference, themed “Conceptualising Environment(s): Continuity and Change” and supported by the British Academy, brought together scholars from around the world to examine the intersections of architecture, environment, and society.
Professor Jaber’s paper, “Tegart Forts: Materializing Palestinian Statehood in Military Structures,” investigates the enduring legacy of British-built Tegart forts, military structures constructed during the British Mandate in Palestine (1920–1948). Originally designed to suppress the Palestinian revolt of 1936–1939, these fortified police stations were strategically located and built to withstand sieges. Over decades of geopolitical upheaval, many Tegart forts have been demolished, abandoned, or repurposed. In the West Bank, some transformed from sites of imprisonment into Palestinian government headquarters, symbolizing state-building efforts amid occupation.
Through architectural and urban analysis, photography, mapping, and archival research, Jaber’s work explores how these structures continue to dominate their surroundings, shaping movement, access, and urban development. Her research examines the ways Tegart forts continue to serve as manifestations of a state in the making, built on a colonial and militarized legacy.
The AHRA conference emphasized the critical role of humanities-driven studies in addressing complex architectural questions, particularly in an era of rapid technological change. More details about the conference and its theme can be found on the official website.