In May, 2015, Professor Larry Harder, a faculty member in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, participated in a workshop called the "E-scape Workshop", supported by the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) in Bar Elias, Lebanon.  Organized by Dr. Maria Gabriella Trovato of the Landscape Design and Environmental Management Department (LDEM) of the American University of Beirut (AUB), a group of international collaborators in landscape architecture, including Professor Harder, and students from the LDEM program at AUB, explored the role of landscape architecture in a small Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon.  Following a planning meeting in January, the May workshop consisted of the on-site planning, design, and implementation of ideas to improve the material conditions of the existing informal settlement called Al Tyliani.

This project has received an award at the International Biennial of Landscape in conjunction with an other studio project led by Dr. Trovato.  The two projects were jointly given a special Honorary Mention at the “International Prize of University Projects in Schools of Architecture and Landscape."

The following is the quote for the announcement of the award:  "Two activities carried on by the 'Landscape in Emergency' research group [of AUB] received a special Honorary Mention at the “International Prize of University Projects in Schools of Architecture and Landscape,” Barcelona, Spain.  

Led by Dr. Maria Gabriella Trovato, Assistant Professor at the Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management department at the American University of Beirut, LDEM 228, Sarafand Informal Settlement Landscape project and International Operative Landscape Workshop ‘e-scape. Refugee settlement’, May 2015, Al Tyliani Informal Settlement Landscape project, received a special mention for dealing with current conflicts and seeking convenient solutions.

The activities were conducted in collaboration with professors coming from the University of Belgrade, AUC, Penn University, ALBA, University of Guelph, Universita’ Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria and with the support of Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service, AUB, International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) and Kayani Foundation."

More information can be found on the Landscape in Emergency Facebook page [1].