Febrik is a not-for-profit collaborative platform for participatory art and design research projects with practicing architects, designers and artists active in the Middle East and the UK.

Febrik’s main area of concern lies in the dynamics and practices of public spaces in relation to social and urban change; in specific in relation to negotiations of right of space within spaces of refuge of previously unrepresented groups such as children and women. We focus on the use of art-and-design-based research methodologies and processes (architecture/ art/ film/ photography/ text) to enhance community participation and action and to develop propositional thinking with regards to the immediate social and physical environment.

Febrik approach projects by thinking creatively in small scale and within existing resources. Through a process of research, educational workshops and participatory design, the methodology facilitates site and community specific dialogue and knowledge, the exchange of skills and ideas with local partners and the development of participatory tools for proposition. These include short and long term site-specific programmatic and spatial interventions (such as exhibitions, events, installations and permanent public structures and spaces)

Through a series of project (primarily in Palestinian Refugee Camps in the Middle East and more recently in marginal housing estates in London) Febrik has developed a series of research and design projects exploring ideas of the social playground, as  public multi-functional and intergenerational spaces enabling spatial and temporal negotiations and overlaps in appropriation of previously unrepresented groups.

Febrik is a partnership set up by Joumana al Jabri, Reem Charif and Mohamad Hafeda in collaboration with local partners and creative networks.

Contributing Team (past and present)

Fida Abdel Rahman
Iman Bekdash
Greg Sheng
Dalal Abed El Rahman
Sahar Hafeda
Salah Hamza
Shaker Jarrar
Marwan Kaabour
Abeer Kassem
Pippa Murray
Sophana Sophanpanich
Ramsey Yassa