AIA Middle East Webinar Series
Sacred Nour: A visual introduction in the theory of lighting mosques and other Islamic structures
AIA Middle East hosted an online lecture on May 22 by Abdulaziz Al Azem
This was the third talk as part of the AIA Middle East x Rusafa collaboration to present cultural and architectural events.
The speaker discussed the relationship between light and Islamic architecture during the talk, emphasizing the impact of light on Islam and its significant importance on both the religious and social aspects. The speaker also explored lighting applications on the Mosque, the symbolic building in Islam, following up with profound analytical case studies of historical mosques from different periods and locations focusing on the Middle East region.
Our guest speaker was Abdulaziz Al Azem, a lighting engineer, author, and the founder of a lighting design studio based in Riyadh. Al Azem studied interior architecture at the Lebanese American University and has completed his masters in Architectural Lighting Design at the Hochschule Wismar University in Germany.
Towards Architecture of Resistance
AIA Middle East hosted an online lecture on May 8 by Dr. Saleem M. Dahabreh.
The aim of this lecture was to introduce the concept of architecture as resistance and the role critical architecture plays in forming that resistance. This introduced the audience to the important role of criticality in architecture. By critiquing contemporary architectural discourse in light of its historical, political, aesthetic, ethical and cultural circumstances, the lecture intrigued the audience to develop capacities that make them capable of both understanding and challenging prevailing positions and practices in architecture.
Dr. Saleem Mokbel Dahabreh is currently an associate professor at the Department of Architecture/ University of Jordan. Dr Dahabreh has a diverse academic background; an M. Arch from the KU-Leuven (1996) focusing on architecture and identity and an M.S. from the University of Jordan (1998) focusing on the relationship between architecture and the behavioral sciences. Dr. Dahabreh worked as a full time lecturer at the Department of Architecture at Jordan University of Science and Technology. In 2006, Dr Dahabreh got his PhD from Georgia Institute of Technology. analyzing the work of Richard Meier, Dr. Dahabreh’s focus in his PhD was in design logic and constructive morphology addressing the relationship between function, concepts and themes, and formal languages in architectural designs. His research focus is on formal logic, concept formation, and architectural morphology. Dr Dahabreh as a jury member on several occasions, administered several courses in architecture and sustainability, and served as a committee member on several architectural competitions. Dr Dahabreh is also a practicing architect that won several architectural competitions, and designed several projects in Jordan. He is the principal founder 90 Degrees Design studio.
Green Building Strategies & LEED Rating System.
AIA Middle East recently hosted a lecture on April 10 by Riham Albanna at Ithra (King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture) about Green building strategies & LEED rating system.
This session provided simple essential knowledge of sustainable building concepts that are fundamental to all LEED rating system. It began with an introduction to benefits and an integrative approach to Green Building, and a brief background on the Green Building council and LEED, including the basics of the building certification process.
The audience learned about the intent of LEED and concepts at the credit category level, across building types and rating systems, touching on strategies, synergies, and specific examples that were reinforced by real project case examples.
This lecture was delivered in collaboration with the Idea Lab of Ithra.
Ventilated Façade and Fiber Cement Materials
AIA Middle East hosted an online lecture on March 29 by Khalil Soodi about Ventilated Façade and Fiber Cement Materials.
This course gave our audience a complete overview of the history of Fiber Cement and its unique qualities for sustainable building and façade design. Today’s design architect is faced with challenges when selecting materials of quality and suitability to their local market that balance aesthetics, budget and constructability.
The speaker revealed why important designers worldwide are contributing with beautiful façades to a growing trend in contemporary architectural façade design that is durable and commercially viable.
Augmented Reality for Architecture and Urbanism
AIA Middle East hosted an online lecture on March 20 by Dr. Janset Shawash and Narmeen Marji about Augmented Reality for Architecture and Urbanism
Nowadays, the world is undergoing a major shift in the way it is being experienced and conceived. Recent technologies have made it possible for different realities to exist and merge with the one we live in. The term Extended Reality (XR), an umbrella term that comprises Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR), allows people to escape everyday life into this new form of being that can be designed, adapted, and harnessed to improve the way we experience our surroundings.
This lecture examined how the notion of the Urban is addressed in extended reality in today’s fast-paced world. It looked at how these new technologies can be injected into Architecture, Urban Planning and Design education and practice, leading to the creation of enhanced urban experiences and the design of functional, sustainable, context-sensitive spaces.
About the Speakers:
Janset Shawash PhD., is an Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture and Built Environment, German Jordanian University (Jordan). Her research interests focus on history and theory of architecture, urban planning and design, especially issues relevant to developing new methods for localizing urbanism and promoting community involvement in shaping their urban environment. Her professional expertise includes planning of major urban development projects in Jordan and the MENA region.
Narmeen Marji, is an architect specializing in Augmented Reality Development and cross-platform application building for Architecture, Urban Planning and Design. She has participated in projects of architectural design, city planning and heritage conservation and has recently undertaken intensive research on applications of Augmented Reality in education of architectural and urban design for her Master’s degree at the School of Architecture and Built Environment, German Jordanian University (Jordan).
