IWLab is a multidisciplinary laboratory specializing in research, education, and practice of cultural and architectural design.

Founded in 2009 by Iyas Shahin and Wesam Al Asali, IWlab has been dedicated to various endeavors including architectural education for children, fostering awareness of the built environment, exploring traditional construction techniques, developing housing strategies in informal areas, and conducting cultural research. Based in Syria and Spain, IWlab's collaborates with young students and graduate architects, thus creating a network of creative members with diverse interdisciplinary skills.

 Background

IWLab was born as a response to the stagnant norms of architectural practice prevailing in Syria and the broader Arab region. In these regions, architectural graduates often found themselves entangled in municipal bureaucracies, chasing elusive building permits. IWlab emerged to emphasize on addressing architecture, heritage, and urban studies within their socio-economic context, a context that was often relegated to the periphery of the profession.

IWLab developed two interconnected avenues that merged education, practice, and research. The first revolved around experimenting with local materials and exploring the intricate relationships between ecologies and the constructed environment in Syria and the Middle East. The second pathway involved collaborative urban observation through artistic and open-ended forms of communication, including films, drawings, and maps.

Purpose

In IWLab, we sought to carve out a space for critical thinking. A platform for which we used tools from art and education to open discussions about historical and contemporary cities in Syria and the Global South. By exploring the complexities of the built environment in urban and rural settings, we engage with their rich cultural heritage and engaging with local artists, scholars, and community members, we seek to foster a deeper comprehension of the city's past, present, and future.