Exhibition – (Dis)Connected
The FABER Exhibition “(Dis)Connected” explores how infrastructures, planning, and governance decisions can both integrate and fragment urban life. It is presented in collaboration with the London School of Economics Middle East Centre, Abu Dhabi University, and POLIS University in Tirana, extending a global conversation on the social and spatial consequences of urban development.
The Abu Dhabi exhibition is based on a two-year research project by the LSE Middle East Centre, led by Alexandra Gomes and Apostolos Kyriazis, with contributions from Clémence Montagne and Peter Schwinger, and with the support of Kendall Livingston. First exhibited in London and later in Abu Dhabi, it now arrives in Tirana. The project explores how roads connect and divide urban life. The exhibition features materials from the research team, complemented by photographs and drawings from Abu Dhabi University’s architectural design students under the guidance of Apostolos Kyriazis, and motion design contributions from students from L’École de design Nantes Atlantique, guided by Clémence Montagne.
The Tirana chapter situates these questions in the Albanian context, where legislative and territorial reforms have redefined the city’s boundaries. Following the 2016 territorial reform, areas such as Paskuqan Lake were administratively excluded from Tirana, reshaping the northern edge of the city. Today, new urban developments — the New Boulevard, its terminating towers, and the abrupt end of its northern extension — illustrate how policies can produce new forms of disconnection.
Adding to this reflection, student projects from POLIS University, developed during lectures led by Professor Joleza Koka, provide alternative visions and critical perspectives on Tirana’s transformation. Their work highlights how young designers interpret and respond to these shifting urban conditions, creating a dialogue between global research and local pedagogy.
By juxtaposing Abu Dhabi’s infrastructural landscapes with Tirana’s legislative and developmental shifts, the exhibition invites visitors to question how connectivity, disconnection, and urban growth are negotiated across different cultural and political contexts. It underscores FABER’s mission to bridge international research, local realities, and student creativity in a shared reflection on the cities of tomorrow.