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Portrait of Suad Amiry

Suad Amiry

Architect, author; vividly narrates Palestinian life.

Born
1951
Born in
Damascus, Syria
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Why Suad is here

Amiry captures the Palestinian ethos through her architectural restoration projects and award-winning literary works, portraying the intimate ramifications of geopolitical strife.

Their story

Suad Amiry is a Palestinian conservation architect and author, known for her contributions to preserving architectural heritage and her writings that reflect on Palestinian identity and personal experiences amid conflict. She founded RIWAQ: Centre of Architectural Conservation in Ramallah and has been recognized with several international awards for her work in both architecture and literature.

In pictures

Milestones

The moments that shaped Suad’s path.

  1. 1981

    Married Salim Tamari and began teaching architecture at Birzeit University.

  2. 1991

    Became a member of the Palestinian delegation to peace negotiations.

  3. 2004

    Received Italy’s renowned literary award, the Viareggio-Versilia Prize, for her memoir "Sharon and My Mother-in-Law".

  4. 2013

    Amiry and her organization RIWAQ were awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

  5. 2018

    Authored "Peasant Architecture in Palestine: Space, Kinship and Gender".

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Architectural Conservation

    Founded RIWAQ, which focuses on conserving architectural heritage across Palestine, and has won international awards for these efforts.

  2. Literature

    Wrote "Sharon and My Mother-in-Law," which provides a personal account of living through the Israeli occupation, and won international recognition.

  3. Cultural Narratives

    Explores Palestinian lives and histories in her writings, including "Golda Slept Here" and "Nothing to Lose But Your Life".

  4. Personal Experience

    Her literary works often reflect her personal experiences, including her journey to see her father’s home in Jaffa, which she never visited despite being so close.

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  5. Fictionalized Historical Account

    Authored "Mother of Strangers," a novel that intertwines the lives of real people with the history of Palestine, emphasizing the importance of personal stories in understanding history.

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