AAU Anastas
Elias and Yousef Anastas are partners at AAU ANASTAS and co-founders of Local Industries, Radio AlHara, and Wonder Cabinet. Their work—situated at the intersection of architecture, design, and cultural production—is rooted in the idea of global provincialism: a dialogue between hyper-specific contexts and broader networks of knowledge, craftsmanship, and solidarity.
Through AAU ANASTAS, they explore the potential of architecture grounded in material intelligence, from object design to territorial projects. They have a particular interest in stone construction, seeking to renew its use to imagine low-carbon structures, more resilient cities, and more responsible quarrying practices.
With Local Industries, they collaborate with artisans to bridge traditional craftsmanship with contemporary production, affirming the importance of craft in today’s design landscape. In 2020, they co-founded Radio AlHara, an online radio station that goes beyond sound broadcasting to create unexpected networks of solidarity—blending resistance, sharing, and experimentation. More recently, they launched Wonder Cabinet, a space for cultural production in Bethlehem, conceived as a place for encounters and exchange, bringing together artists, designers, and artisans in collaborations that merge technique and creativity.
At every scale, their work aims to weave connections between the local and the global, transforming the specificities of a place into a collective strength.
