Suad Amiry (BArch '77) is a distinguished Palestinian architect, author, and cultural heritage leader whose work has profoundly shaped the preservation of Palestinian historic communities and cultural memory. Through her pioneering contributions to architectural conservation and her internationally acclaimed literary voice, Amiry has advanced a deeper understanding of life under occupation and displacement, bridging scholarship, practice, and storytelling.
Born in 1951 in Damascus to a Syrian mother and a Palestinian father originally from Jaffa, Amiry grew up across several Arab capitals, including Amman, Damascus, Beirut, and Cairo. She comes from a family deeply engaged in public service and intellectual life. Her father, Mohamad-Adib, also an AUB graduate, held senior governmental roles in Jordan, including serving as foreign minister in 1967, while her mother was active in the printing press business. This rich cultural, intellectual, and political environment shaped Amiry's early perspectives on identity, heritage, and civic responsibility.
Amiry's academic journey began at the American University of Beirut (AUB), where she earned her bachelor of architecture in 1977. She went on to pursue graduate studies at the University of Michigan, obtaining a master's degree in urban planning, followed by a PhD in architecture from the University of Edinburgh. Despite her global academic trajectory, Amiry has consistently identified herself as an AUB graduate, citing the lasting intellectual and personal impact of the university and the city of Beirut on her life and career.
In 1991, Amiry founded Riwaq center for architectural conservation, which has since become one of the most prominent cultural heritage institutions in Palestine. Under her leadership, Riwaq has documented more than 50,000 historic buildings and restored dozens of sites that now serve as vibrant cultural and community centers. Her approach extends beyond preservation to encompass social and economic development, emphasizing community engagement, capacity-building, and the revitalization of historic villages. Through training programs in traditional construction techniques and initiatives that support residents in reclaiming historic spaces, Amiry has helped foster sustainable models of cultural continuity and local resilience.
Alongside her architectural work, Amiry is an internationally celebrated author whose writing blends personal narrative with political insight and social observation. Her memoir Sharon and My Mother-in-Law: Ramallah Diaries, translated into 17 languages, received the Viareggio Prize in 2004 and brought global attention to everyday life under occupation. Her subsequent works—including Nothing to Lose But Your Life, My Damascus, and Mother of Strangers—continue to explore themes of memory, displacement, and belonging, reaching audiences far beyond academic and architectural circles.
Amiry has held academic positions at Birzeit University, Columbia University, and the University of Jordan. She has been actively engaged in cultural and intellectual initiatives, including the Palestine Festival of Literature.
Her contributions have been recognized with numerous international honors, including the Great Arab Minds Award (2025), the Takreem Lifetime Achievement Award (2021), the Tamayouz Women in Architecture and Construction Award (2018), and AUB's Distinguished Alumni Award (2006). In addition, Riwaq has been presented with the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (2013) and the Qattan Distinction Award (2007).
Through her lifelong commitment to cultural preservation, scholarship, and creative expression, Suad Amiry has established herself as a leading voice in architecture and literature, and as a tireless advocate for heritage as a foundation for identity and collective memory.