KUWAIT UNIVERSITY | Studio Leader : Shaikha AlMubaraki The studio formulates a deeper appreciation of Mecca, the misunderstood holy city where great significance for all Muslims remains, but is poorly discussed and un-interrogated. A beacon of religious rituals, the central district of Al Kabba and its vicinity has increased drastically in footprint overtime, to accommodate the array of five star hotels and malls, that cater mainly to affluent pilgrims year-round. This focus on the development of the religious heart of the city leads to minimal examination of the unplanned, deteriorating settlements that stand only a few kilometers away from this celebrated center. In an ‘ongoing manifesto’ the studio points out the unsustainable aspects of the current city, putting in focus, the continuous demolition of neighborhoods and the ever expansion of Al haram center, the demolition of old historic sites and markets, and the unplanned water systems that allows for repeated flooding, particularly in low-income neighborhoods to name a few. Through projects that aim to critique rather than design band-aid solutions, the studio highlights, narrates, and negotiates the issues at hand in hopes of outlining the potentials of the city in an ongoing manifesto, that culminates from a true understanding of Mecca’s past and present.