Conference Themes

1.     Critique of Contemporary Architecture in the  Arab World:

• Contemporary Architecture in the Arab World in relation to various intellectual ideologies and contemporary architectural theories.
• The Arab contemporary architectural intellect and the potentials for absorbing new concepts in architecture.
• Comparison between academic and intellectual evaluation of the architectural product and its evaluation by the general public and the users.

2.     Architectural Identity and Post Globalization:

• Globalization and “Arabization”: architecture and urbanism, a dialogue between the local and the global.
• Identity between experimentation and alienation.
• Contemporary Architecture and the question of identity: is the issue of identity a ‘trap’ for the architect or is it an open space and a dynamic positive credit?
• Issues of the present moment: the inter-connected world, dynamic identity and the available technologies.
• Architecture and national identity.
• Legislations and planning regulations, and their effects in forming architecture and urbanism.
• Legal and ethical challenges of legislation and the architectural and urban practices.

3.     Architecture and Heritage:

• Heritage and nostalgia; was the past always beautiful?
• Heritage as a reference for creativity and the culture of place.
• Heritage and cultural tourism.

4.     Contemporary Architecture in the Arab World and Technology:                        

• Green architecture and sustainable environmental technologies: potentials for application in the Arab World.
• Digital revolution and construction technology: integration of technology in regional architecture  and the production of "intelligent design"
• Use of locally available technology and production: potentials and limitations in producing contemporary architecture the at competes with world architecture.
• traditional Arab architecture and urbanism.

5.     Contemporary Architecture in the Arab World and Development:

• Architecture, urbanism and development: economic dimensions of financial crises.
• Modernizing the Arabic City; Architecture, the cityscape and the urban fabric.
• Mega projects in the Gulf Region: assessment and potentials for generalization.
• Lessons learned from the fast development of cities like Dubai and Doha.
• Housing in the Arab World; from random developments to private compounds.
• Housing in the Arab World; between government projects, and the role of private sector.
• Social, urban and spatial challenges affecting architecture and planning of urban neighborhoods.
• Refugee camps; between providing essential needs, and creating sustainable human environment.

 

6.     Formation of the Arab Architect:

• The works of Arab architects; challenges, success stories and intellectual basis.
• Challenges facing Arab architects against International consultants and “Starchitects”?
• Has the age of the “Architect as Role Model” ceased to exist? Where are the Pioneers of the Moment?
• The formation of Arab architects and their responsibility in addressing contemporary challenges of architecture and the built environment; the role of education.
• Critical and knowledge capabilities of the Arab
• Student in the digital world: how do we teach  him, how do we formulate the educational syllabus, what is the new relationship between  student and professor?