M.Arch. Urban Planning, Harvard University, USA
B.Arch. Architecture with a minor in Political Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Roula el-Khoury is an Associate Professor at the Lebanese American University. Her academic work was recognized by numerous prizes such as the Peter Cook Honorable mention, the Azar and the Areen Awards. Her research interests focus on topics related to the material manifestation of global influences in the Middle East and the representation of capital in the city. In this context El-Khoury has published papers addressing the role of the private sector in shaping urban spaces. Her research investigates policies and dominant practices that have contributed to the transformation of the city fabric as well as to the exclusion of the underprivileged population from urban public spaces and denied them access to affordable housing in the city center. Roula examines particular cases of urban engagement as an alternative to the formally designated public spaces and calls for the adoption of a progressive urban agenda that highlights the collective identity of the city. Issues related to gender, socio-economic and ethnic differences have been central to her studies namely those focused on the informal children’s play areas that reiterated the notion of the “produced” as opposed to the abstract form of public spaces. In line with her interests, Roula has proposed visions and projects for a more inclusive city and is the recipient of several international design competition prizes of which “Revisiting Dalieh”, the design of a Municipal headquarters in Fidar and “Think Housing”.