AIA Middle East - Towards a public space: Experimentations on urbanity
Event Description
“Towards a public space” delves into Studio Toggle’s contribution to the creation of a public space culture in the MEA region. At this conference we will look into the design process that leads to urban activation, resulting in strengthening of urban communities through public space and culture.
CES: Estimated 1 LU for AIA Members
Speakers
Rui Gonçalves , Associate Partner, Studio Toggle
Mani Kuruvila, Senior Architect, Studio Toggle
Moderator: Maryam Al Balushi, Assoc. AIA, Oman Country Representative, AIA Middle East; Architect, F&M Middle East Engineering Consultancy LLC
Moderator: Christian Vasquez, Intl. Assoc. AIA, Director, AIA Middle East; Project Architect and Business Development Executive, National Engineering Bureau
Rui Gonçalves joined Studio Toggle in 2015. He completed his Architecture Degree by the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto in 2007. After working with J.M. Carvalho Araújo, he concludes his thesis on Rafael Moneo, presented at IJUP 08 – University Young Investigators conference.
After the 2nd internship in Oporto (2006-2011), where he wins the Pyramid Channel Bridge Design Competition (Aveiro) and designs schools (Porto, Vimioso) and Elderly Community Centre in Porto, he initiates his independent practice in 2007.
The design and construction supervision of Costa Verde Kindergarten (Espinho, 2008-2013) starts his involvement in project coordination and construction management of commercial and housing projects, having won the Limited Competition for Housing Complex in Azurara in 2013.
Mani Kuruvila completed his Bachelor of Architecture from University of Kerala, graduating in 2007. He later went on to do his Masters in Architecture from Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, Ahmedabad in 2009. Since then he has worked in architecture offices, as a faculty in various architecture schools in Bangalore, also in private projects.
Mani joined Studio Toggle in January 2019.
Maryam Al Balushi is currently the Oman Country Representative of AIA Middle East. She is one of the founding members of SustainableOman, the Women in Engineering chapter in Oman, as well as Oman Society of Architecture. She graduated from Kansas State University with a Masters in Architecture, as well as completing a study abroad program in Centro Studi Città di Orvieto in Italy, in which the main focus was the exploration of Ancient and Contemporary Italian Architecture. She is currently working in F&M Middle East Engineering Consultancy LLC as the Proposal Manager, and arranges talks revolving around architecture and urban planning for the design community.
Maryam's design vision is to create spaces that evoke revolutionary ideas, educate budding minds and respect the fragility of our earth. Deeply interested in the practice of design that fuses diverse minds, she seeks mutual respect and openness to idea generation and eventually produces something beautiful and powerful. She is an advocate of design that not only transcends borders and is used as a tool for change, but is also contextually appreciative, innovative and ultimately timeless in nature. Her main aim in Oman is to spread design awareness to the public and to educate them on its processes, effective and sustainable results, and overall potential benefits socially and economically.
Christian Vasquez is the Project Architect and Business Development Executive of National Engineering Bureau - NEB (a top architectural & engineering consultant in Dubai).
He is Dubai's Regional Representative at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).
Born in Manila, he acquired his bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Far Eastern University in 2004. Soon after graduation, he worked at Palafox Associates in Makati.
In the 15 years of his professional career, he has worked on hundreds of projects ranging from retail shops and housing projects to large scale towers and resorts, as well as hotels and master-planned developments. Currently, with a team of over 160 architects and designers, he has been working extensively on large-scale development work.
Christian is one of the chartered architects who brought the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) to Dubai. He is the current chapter president of UAP 124 Dubai. Christian is the first Filipino to serve as one of the Board Members of the American Institute of Architects Middle East Chapter. In 2010, Christian initiated the Architect Gives Back Program, a charity which helps to send less fortunate children to school in his home country of the Philippines.
