I have met extraordinary people who gave me more than I could ever return: guidance, criticism, belief, and patience. I often came to them with fragments, half-baked ideas riddled with doubt and uncertainty, and yet they trusted the vision long before it took shape.
Dr. Dalal M. Alsayer - The first to believe in my work. She saw potential when I was still an undergraduate architecture student with a slight interest in astronomy and encouraged me to go to the desert, beyond the boundaries of conventional study. She introduced me to the idea of environmental orientalism, which continues to guide my thinking, and many other essential frameworks in which I continue to see the world. Her generous support, from those first steps to every milestone after, including graduate school, made this project possible.
Professor Laura Kurgan — My trusted thesis advisor at Columbia GSAPP. She held faith in the work when it was still floating thoughts and she pushed me find its direction. I admired her way of thinking and was honored to hold such insightful coversations with her. Her mentorship was rigorous, generous, and deeply intelligent, and it has shaped both this project and my practice.
Aleen AlSuhaibani - My dear friend, who I found at Columbia - I thank her for always pushing me to expand this work, for being my first and most patient audience at every stage, and for always finding ways to celebrate it. She continues to be a part of this work and she always will be.
Mr. Majed Al-Zhofi - The Bedouin astronomer whom I was fortunate to meet by chance. He witnessed my first encounter with the sky and was patient with my endless curiosity and questions about the stars.