The Silent Room v05

The Silent Room v05

by Nathalie Harb
with Pamela Erbetta, Lea Kayrouz, Alex Tzortis de Paz,
Youmna Saba, Maurizio Tedesco, Michele Piccione

This place of contemplation will serve as a symbol of unity for Agrigento, offering residents a meeting point capable of reconnecting neighborhoods and restoring a shared vision of the city.

The unique urban fabric of Agrigento, layered over centuries around the Valley of the Temples, has created a physical and social divide that hinders the emergence of a collective identity. The Silent Room addresses this disconnection through a community space inspired by the metaphor of the nest: an accumulation and layering of materials that reflects the city’s urban history. Located within the Valley of the Temples, this place will offer citizens the chance to experience a protected environment, where social and cultural differences dissolve in an act of reconciliation.

The Silent Room will be a timeless space rooted in the territory—a site of care and connection, designed to foster contact and unity among the city’s diverse neighborhoods. Starting in May, it will take shape in the Valley of the Temples, combining innovative design with the active involvement of the local community. This space is envisioned as both a refuge and a site of meditation, where residents can rediscover a shared sense of belonging. More than a physical shelter, it will be a powerful symbol of reconciliation and care. The Silent Room represents an opportunity to overcome divisions and build a collective identity for Agrigento, based on solidarity, mutual respect, and deep human connection.

Access to The Silent Room will unfold gradually for citizens through various activities. One such initiative will be the distribution of a hundred free admission passes, aimed at encouraging residents from different neighborhoods to step outside their routines and meet in this visually ever-present but rarely accessible place—an act of communal and collective care.

The project will follow a multi-phase process, with specific activities designed to engage the community and foster a deep connection among its members.

Get to know the artist: 

Nathalie Harb is a multidisciplinary artist and designer based between Paris and Beirut.  
She creates public interventions, installations, and scenographies that challenge the notions of home, shelter, and space, proposing an alternative use of our everyday habitat. Her projects generate collaborative environments where various professionals—musicians, acoustic consultants, permaculture experts, environmental advisors, and architects—come together to shape initiatives ranging from urban interventions to community workshops and exhibitions. Her work has been supported by organizations and initiatives such as UNESCO’s Week of Sound, the American University of Beirut’s Neighborhood Initiative, the Temporary Art Platform, and the London Design Biennale.