Joana Dabaj
Co-Founder & Director of Programmes, CatalyticAction, United Kingdom
Joana Dabaj
Last updated: April 15, 2024 London, United Kingdom
She was part of a team from CatalyticAction that won a Holcim Foundation Awards Bronze 2017 for “Pavilion Re-claimed: Adaptive reuse for refugee education in Lebanon”. The project at the Jarahieh Informal Tented Settlement was praised by the independent regional jury for its contribution to the ongoing humanitarian crisis of Syrian refugees and the ingenious reinvention of a pavilion from Expo 2015 in Milan.
Joana Dabaj is an architect, urban designer, and researcher. She has valuable experience in architecture in development, sustainable design, cultural heritage, migration, and human rights in the Middle East. Her recent work revolves around working closely with displaced and host communities in Lebanon to develop inclusive educational spaces; this includes participatory planning, design and implementation of playgrounds, public spaces and schools.
She holds a BSc in Architecture from the American University of Beirut and an MSc in Building & Urban Design in Development from University College London (UCL).
Related information
Location
News
Media Release
Middle East Africa: A focus on people
Zurich, Switzerland
Women in Design 2020+
“Much has changed – but much more must still change”
Mumbai, India
Strelka “Future Architect” Conference
Community empowerment central to sustainable design
Moscow, Russia
Holcim Awards
Mariam Kamara to head Holcim Awards jury for Middle East Africa in 2020
Zurich, Switzerland
Winners of the Holcim Awards 2017 for Middle East Africa
Local solutions to enhance the quality of life
Nairobi, Kenya
Projects
Pavilion Re-claimed in Lebanon
Adaptive reuse for refugee education
El Marj, Lebanon
Videos
LafargeHolcim Awards winners Joana Dabaj and Riccardo Luca Conti from CatalyticAction highlighted the importance of ethical standards and social inclusion at the Strelka “Future Architect” Conference in Moscow, Russia.
Joana Dabaj & Riccardo Luca Conti at Strelka “Future Architect” Conference, Moscow
LafargeHolcim Awards winners Joana Dabaj and Riccardo Luca Conti from CatalyticAction highlighted the importance of ethical standards and social inclusion at the Strelka “Future Architect” Conference in Moscow, Russia.
Joana Dabaj & Riccardo Luca Conti at Strelka “Future Architect” Conference, Moscow
The urgent needs of Syrian refugees in Lebanon are the focus of this humanitarian project in sustainable design say Joana Dabaj and Riccardo Conti of CatalyticAction. The project repurposes a pavilion as a school for refugees that builds community, builds capacity, and delivers quality spaces through sustainable techniques.
“Reusing a Structure for a Humanitarian Cause” – Sustainable design by Joana Dabaj & Riccardo Conti
The urgent needs of Syrian refugees in Lebanon are the focus of this humanitarian project in sustainable design say Joana Dabaj and Riccardo Conti of CatalyticAction. The project repurposes a pavilion as a school for refugees that builds community, builds capacity, and delivers quality spaces through sustainable techniques.