April 26th, 2017: A panel of leading professionals from the world of architecture and design have offered their insights on the future of the Gulf Region’s landscape in a thought-provoking debate convened by Canadian University Dubai (CUD).
Hosted by Chloe Bennet from the School of Architecture and Design, the event saw students, faculty and senior practitioners discuss how professionals in the design industry, and landscape architects in particular, have a transformational role in creating a sense of place.
Opening the debate was Associate Professor, Dr. Hoshiar Nooraddin, who spoke about the importance of establishing a strong relationship with nature to help develop a liveable environment. Dr. Nooraddin discussed the case study of Superkilen in Denmark; a formerly run down area characterised by social disunity, which was completely transformed through a design that mirrored its cultural diversity.
The debate continued with Robert Shakespeare, Group Design Director of Cracknell, who discussed the role of landscape architecture in shaping the design of cities, while James Kirkpatrick, Global Director of Master-planning at AECOM took the floor to compare and contrast the urban design of three major world cities; New York, Toronto and Dubai.
Introducing another dimension to the debate, Joshua Smithson from the environmental consulting firm, WKC Group, spoke about the impact of design on the desert ecology and the need to consider the preservation of natural habitats.
Following a lively Q&A session, the discussion turned to how landscape architects can use existing environmental features to enhance their design, with William Bennett from Desert Ink providing an insight into the design of Akoya Oxygen in Dubai.
Dr. Eva Oliveira from CUD’s School of Architecture and Design went on to discuss the social, psychological and health benefits that can be promoted through design, while Quintin Davidson of SQM Design provided a fascinating insight into the practical challenges of creating luxury development projects.
The presentations concluded with Dr. Eyad Al Khalaileh from the School of Architecture and Design, who discussed the link between space and place, and the importance of design in establishing quality of life and a sense of community.
The speakers were joined by panelists Jay French and Claire Wilhousen to take part in the closing Q&A session, with questions touching on the panel’s vision for the future of Dubai and the role of Expo 2020 in creating a united identity for the City.
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