Tima Rabbat is a spatial practitioner and architectural researcher based in London. She focuses on ecological networks and mutual dependencies. Her interests lie in the politicised territorialisation of space, thinking through themes of ownership and protection within changing environments.
Tima holds the position of Associate Lecturer for the MA City Design studio Underground Palestine, which focuses on heritage as sites for urban struggle in Palestine and is led by Dima Srouji.
She is currently a research architect at the Climate Emergency Software Alliance (CESA), an NGO working on the development of infrastructure for inclusive, participatory climate adaptation.
Tima earned her MA degree in Environmental Architecture from the Royal College of Art, London, following her completion of a BArch (Hons) degree at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Key details
School, Centre or Area
More information
Practice
Tima has practiced architecture in multiple design studios, including Snøhetta in Oslo and JCA Studio in Taipei. This includes social projects ranging from community centres to performance halls, as well as the development and research of new adaptive materials.
Research interests
Tima is in the process of developing her research project Sticky Volumes, alongside Lin Xuan, which challenges the extent of protection granted to a professional apiary to not only include the territory of a beekeeper, but also that of the bee. This is understood as a way for beekeepers to claim back and protect much larger plots of the Evia Forest landscape through the protection of a product of this forest: honey.
They are currently in the process of finalising the Protected Designation of Origin and Geographic Indication applications to send out to EU’s Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs.
Publications, exhibitions, other outcomes
Exhibitions
"Sticky Volumes" exhibited at Dubai Design Week, November 2023, work produced by: Tima Rabbat + Lin Xuan.
"Uncertain Dwellings" showcased in Keep In Touch, London, November 2023, work produced by: Tima Rabbat.
"Sticky Volumes" displayed at Zappeion Exhibition, Athens, October 2023, work produced by: Tima Rabbat + Lin Xuan.
"Ya wa Ya" presented as part of Beirut Shifting Grounds at the Venice Biennale 2021, work produced by: Tima Rabbat + Marya Zantout + Tala El Khatib + Jad Najm.
"Ya wa Ya" exhibited at Beirut Design Week, July 2018, work produced by: Tima Rabbat + Marya Zantout + Tala El Khatib + Jad Najm.
Awards and grants
World Olymp'Arts Award 2023
Awarded First Prize and selected for the Zappeion Exhibition at OLYMP'ARTS 2023, in the category Architecture and Environment.
Dean’s Prize, Royal College of Art, August 2023
College prize awarded to the highest performing student in each programme.
Dean’s Honors Award, American University of Beirut, July 2020
Faculty prize awarded to the highest performing students in their respective programme.