The informal city, informal urbanisation and unplanned dispositions of structures present a threat to the US military. Every year, they invest billions of dollars in simulated cities (mock cities) around the world. Simulated cities are replicas of existing cities, where military personnel and background cast performers participate in active combat training, or “war-planning exercises.” As part of an enduring strategy of control and“stability”, the military has developed an interest in codifying informal architectural form. Replicas of middle eastern cities are built to assess, rehearse, and refine spatial learnings before they are executed and deployed across civilian spaces. Both typology and culture are given a distinct military makeover in which details of context, ornament and history are intentionally obscured. Architecture plays a significant role in this process of mimicry and performance. Dalia's work investigates the methods and techniques employed by military personnel to imitate and replicate the authentic living spaces of middle eastern cities. This research points to larger questions relating to the relationship between forces of global security and urban development: it seeks to make apparent the connection between the refinement of US military learnings –rehearsed in the space of mock cities– and the increasing militarisation, standardisation, and control of cities around the world. How do we develop the tools to defend the informal city against the military quest for operational control?