Bassam Al-Chaer

Syrian architect preserving cultural heritage amid conflict through innovative reconstruction techniques.

Bassam Al-Chaer (b. 1980) is a Damascus-born architect leading the Palmyra Conservation Initiative, restoring ancient Syrian sites damaged during the civil war. After studying in Paris, he returned in 2008 to found Syrian Architecture for Community Revival, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern materials. His 2013 project reconstructing the Bosra Roman Theatre using 3D-printed stone replicas earned a UNESCO award.

During the 2015 ISIS occupation, Al-Chaer secretly documented destroyed monuments via drone, data now used in Google Arts & Culture’s Syria exhibit. His 2020 TED Talk 'Rebuilding Memory' highlighted techniques like 'adaptive reconstruction' preserving historical authenticity while ensuring community use. The 2022 Louvre exhibition showcased his team’s 1:10 scale models of Palmyra’s temples. Critics acclaim his approach for prioritizing local labor over foreign contractors, seen in the 2023 World Architecture Festival award. Al-Chaer’s work challenges post-war reconstruction norms by centering cultural continuity over tourist-driven restoration.