Since April 2025
PhD Candidate, International Urbanism, University of Stuttgart, Germany
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Astrid Ley
Since 2020
Founding member at YSU “Young Syrian Urbanists” A Syrian-led initiative and a diverse community encompassing multidisciplinary urban and architectural practitioners, professionals, academics, experts, and more, all specializing in the unique context of Syria which was launched by “Syrbanism gUG”
2014 – 2023
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Faculty of Architecture, Damascus University, Syria
Contributed to the instruction of several undergraduate courses as a member of the Department of Architectural Theories and History, , including:
- Architectural Criticism (2nd year)
- Architectural Trends (4th year)
- Urban Sociology (4th year)
- Introduction to Architectural Theories (1st year)
In addition to the supervision of a design studio within the Department of Architectural Design as part of the teaching staff for 1st, 4th, and 5th-year architecture students, supporting both theoretical and practical components of the curriculum.
2019 – 2020
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Qasyoun Private University – Faculty of Architecture, Jabab, Daraa Governorate. Supervision of Design Studio 3 and 4 in the Department of Architecture
2015 – 2019
Architect at AV Design – Arto Voskian’s Office, Damascus, Syria
2014 – 2018
Master’s Degree in Theories and History of Architecture, University of Damascus, Syria
2013 – 2014
Architect, Intern at Mosa Al Heswani office, Yabroud, Rif Dimashq, Syria
2008 – 2013
Bachelor Degree in Architecture, University of Damascus, Syria
CV Summary
Yara Alheswani is an architect and urban researcher who is currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Stuttgart.
She earned her diploma in architecture from Damascus University in 2013 where she also worked as a researcher and teaching assistant from 2014 to 2023. She obtained a Master’s degree in the Theory and History of Architecture from Damascus University in 2018.
Yara is interested in urban research that studies the relationship between humans and their urban environment and the spatial changes that occur during conflicts. She has also been involved in several projects as a supervisor or organizer and has participated in numerous related workshops and visual exhibitions in Syria, Lebanon, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the UK. Currently, she focuses on social-spatial transformation and the role of informality in place making and in urban development.
PUBLICATIONS
Alheswani, Yara. (2023). “SUSPENDED; A day in the city.” Open text, Book: Published in Arabic and with limited English copies by Ninawa Publishing House, Damascus, Syria.
Alheswani, Yara. (2022) “POLYPHONIC MORPHOLOGY. Unseen Acts – The City as Reflection” Dimensions. Journal of Architectural Knowledge, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 195-208. https://doi.org/10.14361/dak-2022-0313
Alheswani, Yara. (2022). “The social life of things – the story of a house from Tale’ Al-Feddah neighborhood” A research published in Arabic, The first prize in Fakhri al-Baroudi research competition – Third edition. Damascus History Foundation publications, Damascus, Syria.
Alheswani, Yara. (2021). “Architecture as a stage for a child’s imagination… How did Syrian children design more “friendly” cities?” Article: Published in Arabic at Raseef22, an independent media platform, 20 June 2021
Alheswani, Yara. (2018). “The city and the production of inequality.” Article: Published in Arabic at Equal Citizenship Centre, 20 Nov. 2018
PROJECT PARTICIPATIONS (SELECTION)
2025 – 2026
Jury member for the International Competition to Design Innovative Furniture for Street Vendors.
This competition invites participants to design innovative furniture for street vendors in India, such as fruit sellers, flower sellers, toy vendors, vegetable vendors, and street food sellers.
Held by Ketham’s Atelier Architects
https://kethamsatelier.com/2025/08/28/open-international-competition-to-design-innovative-furniture-for-street-vendors-2025-26/
Nov. – Dec. 2025
Co-Lead of the Content Development Team along with M. Arch. Walaa Haj Ali in the collaborative project:
“Co-Imagining Urban Futures and Recovery of War-Torn Neighbourhoods in Ghouta, Damascus
Case studies: Jobar and Qaboun in Ghouta, Damascus.
Partners: BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg, Syrbanism gUG, Young Syrian Urbanists Network (YSU), American University of Beirut (AUB)
Apr. 2022 – Jan. 2023
Curator of “Suspended”, an urban documentary project in an innovative, artistic context: An attempt to fuse architectural and visual arts perspectives into a vision of the city. This production was made possible through a grant from Culture Resource (Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy).
“Suspended” was exhibited as a multi-media interactive installation, and its narrative was published as a stand-alone book: “Suspended – A day in the city”
Jan. 2022
Guest Panel Lecture, “Architecture Writing / Writing Architecture”
Thinking Hand NGO – Workshop (Webinar) on: Design – Thesis – Motivation 02
In collaboration with Ketham’s Atelier Architects
Mar. – Apr. 2021
Trainer teamed up with M. Arch. Samer Said in the workshop: “The concept of Place and Architectural Thinking”, within the “Masarat” Project held by Sanabel Organization in cooperation with DDISC – DAMASCUS
Mar. 2020
Main supervisor in the workshop “For Syria … Damascus”, held at Damascus University – Faculty of Architecture. It aimed to remove Damascus from the list of World Heritage in Danger. The supervised group studied the historical zones outside the walls of old Damascus (Sarouja, Al Midan and Al Salhiye)
