Typographic Matchmaking in the City

The Typographic Matchmaking in the City book offers a brief range of essays that discuss the complex topic of public space from their respective authors’ individual experiences and perspectives. Through specific anecdotes, they elucidate the problems and implications of designing for “public space” and multicultural communities. These essays frame and contextualize the research and designs presented by the five teams participating in the Typographic Matchmaking in the City project. They briefly shed light on the function and role of text in architectural spaces, discussing specific historical and contemporary examples from cities like Beirut, Dubai, Muscat, Cairo, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, and addressing the various roles of monumental typography in public space. discussing specific historical and contemporary examples from cities like Beirut, Dubai, Muscat, Cairo, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, and addressing the various roles of monumental typography in public space.

The authors include Dr Howayda Al Harithi (American University of Beirut), Zeina Maasri (American University of Beirut), Fadi Shayya (Dar al Handasa), Todd Reisz (Al Manakh 2, editor), Gerard Hadders, Sinan Hassan, Hashim Sarkis, Peter Bilak. In addition, the book presents the research projects of the 5 teams in a fully illustrated sketchbook style that visually explains the design process leading to the final results of public art propositions and typefaces.
This book, like the design research project that preceded it, provides concrete observations on differences as well as shared principles between the Latin and Arabic scripts, and on cultural and architectural conventions for the use of typographic design in three-dimensional urban space in different cities and cultural contexts. It raises thoughtful questions and provides useful tools that designers can use in creating new works for interventions in their own cities.