In his office, thousands of miles away from Afghanistan, Rafi Samizay pulls out a black-and-white photograph of a section of the city of Kabul in the 1970s. The adobe homes and ancient buildings from the old portion of the town stretch out to the edge of the horizon, filling the photograph.

"This is all rubble now,’’ says Samizay.

Samizay, professor in the School of Architecture and Construction Management, fled Kabul more than 20 years ago. There, he had been the director of Kabul University’s architecture school, specializing in indigenous architecture and historic preservation.

"It’s almost numbing,’’ he says. "I’ve been here for 23 years. I’ve seen enormous ups and downs and tragedy…’’ He pauses, then adds, "It’s exciting to see a new light coming.’’

Samizay is working with engineers and architects around the world on plans to rebuild his homeland. To that end, he has recently attended workshops organized by Purdue University and the Society of Afghan Engineers, that discuss restoration and development from a culturally sensitive perspective.

Samizay is the author of a 1980 book on the traditional architecture of Afghanistan and is preparing a book on the historic city of Herat, the epicenter of a 15th century renaissance in Islamic art and architecture. His Western education and position as a professor made him a target during Soviet occupation. He fled Kabul in 1981, shortly after being arrested.

He has been at Washington State University since 1984 and served as the School of Architecture’s director for nine years. In the past year, Samizay has been teaching a course in Islamic architecture and culture. He wants to give his third-year students experience in designing with regard to geography and culture, so he will have them plan buildings for Kabul University.

While a number of universities and organizations worldwide are interested in rebuilding Afghanistan, Samizay says his perspective and that of other Afghan professionals is important.

"I want the effort to go to the Afghan people,’’ he says. "Any development project should have that as a focus. If there are new things, what is going to be their nature and character? Are they going to harmonize with the people and the culture? We don’t want just a bunch of buildings.’’

At the workshops, he was heartened to see other Afghans interested in rebuilding, including younger generations who grew up entirely in the United States.

While these groups gather information and brainstorm, Samizay said it will be important to keep working toward solutions, even as the political situation in Afghanistan remains unstable. The work provides hope for the future, and it shows what is possible to the international community.

"It’s not just rebuilding,’’ he said. "It’s changing the (human) climate. Every work should have the aim of peace. People are looking for peace, stability, and restarting their lives.’’