InterCities is a six-part podcast series from Open City. In it, we travel to a number of cities and boroughs around the world that have transformed over time to discover what we can learn from these places’ achievements, struggles, successes and mistakes.

In this episode, our host Owen Hatherley is joined by the Israeli-born, UK-based academic and writer Dr Yair Wallach who specialises in the urban history of the Middle East. Today the focus is his 2020 book “A City in Fragments: Urban Text in Modern Jerusalem” which explores the city's history through ephemera and urban text and we use it to look more closely at the history of the city of Jerusalem under the British mandate (1918 - 1948). During this time, the British sought to impose a timeless image on Jerusalem and a number of intriguing characters - including Arts and Crafts architect CR Ashby - were involved in its aesthetic transformation. We also look at the Palestinians who challenged British and Zionist narratives through modernist and poetic expressions and whether an understanding of this time can help us in the context of the conflict today. 

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The Open City Podcast is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture platform and produced in association with the Architects’ Journal, London Society, C20 Society and Save Britain's Heritage.

The Open City Podcast is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate.

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Photo credit: Owen Hatherley portrait © Antonio Olmos

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