Places under pressure, made legible.
From the Damascus Citadel to the Veneto, I bring heritage, architecture and urban research into territorial strategy and communication — so complex places are understood before they are explained.
- Site
- Citadel of DamascusAncient City of Damascus — UNESCO
- Coordinates
- 33°30′42″ N36°18′03″ E
- Fieldwork
- 2012 – 2018DGAM Syria
- Scope
- Structural stabilisationDocumentation & rehabilitation
- Record
- 17+ publications5 institutions
"My work explores how communities reconstruct spatial memory, cultural identity, and social fabric in the wake of crisis—translating deep heritage knowledge across physical, urban, and digital forms."
Physical conservation and structural stabilization of historic monuments and UNESCO sites.
Strategic urban recovery and post-conflict revitalization methodologies for resilient cities.
Participatory mapping and digital humanities platforms to safeguard intangible urban memory.
Places under pressure, made legible.
Socio-Cultural Layers of Baghdad
An interactive digital platform mapping urban memory and spatial narratives from 762 CE to the present. Funded by the UCL Nahrein Network.
Souk of Aleppo Urban Acupuncture
A phased intervention strategy for the post-war revitalization of the historic Souk of Aleppo, utilizing diversified urban acupuncture techniques.
Damascus Citadel Conservation
Structural stabilization, documentation, and rehabilitation studies for the UNESCO-listed Damascus Citadel under DGAM Syria.
Socio-Cultural Layers of Aleppo
A research-driven, open-access platform documenting the multilayered urban and social history of Aleppo through deep mapping — survey maps, waqf deeds, trade ledgers, drawings, photographs and oral histories layered onto a geo-referenced base map.
Read the case study
Earthen Domes as Refugee Shelters
Simulation-based analysis of traditional earthen architecture as responsive, sustainable refugee shelters in northern Syria.
Read the case study
Mosaic Damasco
Translating Levantine cultural motifs into sustainable, contemporary physical objects using 3D printing technology.
Read the case studyDesign Inquiries
Six ways I work with researchers, institutions and practices — each with a short brief so a proposal can be specific rather than generic.
Brochure, Report & Presentation Design
Visual storytelling for scholarly research and professional portfolios.
From€600
Start your briefWebsite & WordPress Design
Digital platforms designed for research institutions and architects.
From€1.800
Start your briefWeb Interface & Survey Experience Design
Specialized UI/UX for data collection and interdisciplinary tools.
From€1.200
Start your briefAcademic Design Mentoring
Support for architecture students: concept, layout, and portfolio.
From€60per session
Start your briefScholarship Application Support
Strategic guidance for PhD funding and international grants.
From€350
Start your briefConcept Development & Project Structuring
Translating research ideas into structured project proposals.
From€900
Start your briefStarting prices for typical scope, excluding VAT where applicable. Your exact cost and timeline come back with the proposal, before anything is agreed.
- 01
Send a brief
A few focused questions about scope, audience and material. Around five minutes, no account needed.
- 02
Get a proposal
I reply by email with a suggested approach, what is included, and a cost and timeline for the work.
- 03
Agree and begin
Once scope is agreed, work starts. You review at defined checkpoints rather than only at the end.
Not sure where to start?
If your project does not fit these categories, send a general inquiry and we can work out the right approach together.
Get in touchAn interdisciplinary evolution.
Sonia Ibrahim is an interdisciplinary spatial researcher, architect, and cultural heritage practitioner specializing in post-conflict urban recovery, digital heritage mapping, and place-based narrative strategies.
A PhD candidate in Architecture at the University of Pécs and holding an M.A. in Mobility Studies from the University of Padova, her trajectory is anchored by six years of high-stakes fieldwork as a Conservation Architect for the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) in Syria.
Currently, she operates as an Urbanist and Project Manager for the "Socio-Cultural Layers of Baghdad" initiative, utilizing participatory mapping and digital humanities to document profound spatial transformations over centuries.
Post-Conflict Urban Recovery
Methodological frameworks for the sustainable physical and socio-economic rehabilitation of historic city centers impacted by crisis.
Urban Acupuncture
Proposing small-scale, phased interventions to restore long-term liveability in the ruined Souk of Aleppo, focusing on economic revival and public trust.
Thermal Resilience
Simulation-based analysis of traditional earthen architecture as responsive refugee shelters, merging vernacular heritage with modern humanitarian needs.
Archive & Supporting Evidence
A curated selection of academic reports, technical portfolios, and professional training documentation.
3D Book – University of Damascus
Early digital interventions and 3D documentation work for Syrian heritage.
Urban Design Report – Aalborg University
Strategic urban design research conducted during Erasmus+ exchange in Denmark.
First Internship Experience
Foundational professional practice in architectural conservation and design.
Second Internship Experience
Advanced fieldwork and technical documentation in international contexts.
University of Pécs Publication Profile
Comprehensive record of 17+ peer-reviewed publications and conference proceedings.
Communication & Promotional Campaigns — Certified Practice
A bilingual portfolio and final report for the ESF+ Veneto qualification in communication and promotional campaigns — seven projects, from a Social Impact Assessment to territorial digital archives.