Students from the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (ALBA) at the University of Balamand participated in Milan Design Week 2026 through two major international academic platforms led by Domus Academy and Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI). Selected through competitive evaluation processes, ALBA students presented projects addressing themes of memory, resilience, mobility, and human-centered design, reflecting the school’s commitment to creativity and innovation.

As part of the Interdependence 26 exhibition organized by POLIMI, architecture student Charbel Akiki presented R.A.W: Ruin As Witness, an architectural project built using recovered materials from Beirut. The project explores transformation, memory, and time through an immersive spatial experience that reflects on the relationship between architecture and future generations. The project was supervised by Fouad Samara.

Former Design Department student Judy AlMasri also participated in the exhibition with her project ĀM, an experimental product and global design project exploring memory, grief, and materiality. Inspired by traditional weaving techniques, the project uses responsive materials that react to touch, warmth, and emotion, creating a sensory connection with memory. The project was supervised by Kareen Andraos.

In collaboration with Domus Academy through the UNFOLD project, urban planning students Tatiana Chahine, Stephanie Issa, and Mohamad Khamis presented TOGETHERNESS [Bayt ‘A Doulab] House on Wheels. The project proposes a mobile architectural and urban system designed for emergency evacuation and displacement scenarios in Lebanon. Inspired by the Lebanese central hall typology, it focuses on adaptability, dignity, and collective living. The project was developed under the guidance of faculty members Abbas Sibaï, Zareh Sarabian, and Khaled Moualem.

Through their participation in one of the world’s leading design events, ALBA students demonstrated the ability to engage creatively and critically with contemporary global challenges. Their selection alongside projects from internationally recognized institutions highlights ALBA’s growing international presence and its dedication to supporting innovative and socially engaged design practices across architecture, urbanism, and product design.

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