October 29th, 2014: Assistant Professor of Architecture, Mr. Luca Donner, has revealed one of the emerging frontiers of building design at a major international conference hosted in Durban, South Africa.
Mr. Donner was invited to speak at the 25th International Union of Architects (IUA) World Congress, where he presented four research lectures, including the findings of his published paper on 'multicultural housing'.
Explaining the concept, Mr. Donner said, "Multicultural housing takes account of the relationship between residences and culture - it considers the different environments, lifestyles and religions that residents originate from.
"With growing rates of migration across the globe, a new approach is required to facilitate urban living in these emerging 'cultural melting pots'. In the years to come, one of the greatest challenges for architects across the world will be to develop a typology that translates different lifestyle needs into the design of residential developments."
The International Union of Architects World Congress is an important event in the calendar of worldwide scholars and practitioners in the field, bringing together architects, engineers, designers, technologists, academics, planners, thinkers and writers from all over the globe.
Mr. Donner was among eminent experts in the architectural world, including keynote speakers such as Pritzker Architecture Prize winners, Toyo Ito and Wang Shu, and Chair of the Department of Urban Planning at Harvard University, Prof. Rahul Mehrotra.
While Mr. Donner's initial study of multicultural housing has focused particularly upon Italian territories, there is a clear application for his research in this region's architectural design.
He explained, "In the Middle East, it is common to see the internal courtyard, protected from the exterior sight, without a direct interface with the landscape and with a clear distinction between female and male areas. These typological solutions have been determined not only by the climate, but also, importantly by ancient cultural and religious traditions.
"Ultimately, the next frontier of housing should follow new practices, balanced and integrated with traditions. In this way, housing projects can become a source of urban evolution and intercultural and social aggregation."
The IUA Congress also provided the opportunity to showcase some of the work of students from CUD in the exhibition that ran alongside the conference. Urban Study posters produced by students Mohamed Fayed, Ibrahim Barake and Kenda George were featured among the display at the exhibition, which ran under the banner "Architectural Education Otherwhere - Seen from the South".
Gallery
