AIA Middle East Year End Conference + Regional Design Awards 2014 Doha Qatar
/The AIA Middle East Chapter held its 2nd Annual Year End Conference and Regional Design Awards on the 14-15 November 2014 in Doha, Qatar at the Hilton Hotel. The theme of the conference “Super and Small” focused on the super projects of Qatar and the Gulf Region and the small details that make them possible.
The first day of the conference featured architectural presentations by distinguished professionals and scholars, and was chaired by 2014 AIA Vice President Thomas Vonier FAIA. Lectures presented included the renovation of Souq Waqif by Artist Mohamed Ali Abdulla, Cultural Advisor to H.H Emir of Qatar, and Ameena Ahmadi, Director of Qatar Foundation’s Capital Projects reviewed the architectural type and Diversity within Education City’s Campus. Hiroshi Okamoto AIA, IM Pei former Senior Designer, gave a presentation about the challenges faced during the construction of the Islamic Museum. Dr. Yousef Al Horr, chairman of GORD focused on how GSAS was developed to address the environmental challenges in the GCC and MENA region, and what are the environmental, societal and economic benefits of adopting GSAS best practices. Selma Maroufi of OMA and Matthew Utley of Grimshaw Architects presented some of the exciting projects undertaken by their respective firms. The first day culminated with the Design Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner that took place at the Msheireb Enrichment Center. We were also pleased to have AIA International Region Vice President James Wright, AIA in attendance.
The second day offered a full day program of guided tours to outstanding landmark projects of architectural grandeur in Qatar designed by renowned architects, such as the Doha Tower by Jean Nouvel; Islamic Museum by I.M Pei and Qatar National Convention Center by Arata Isozaki, and concluded with a walk thru and dinner at Souq Waqif.
Qatar Foundation Tour
The conference program was a resounding success and received good reviews from the attendees and participants which included 2015 AIA President Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA.
"As a 15 year member and a past President of the Continental Europe Chapter who have two yearly multi day programs I can say that the Doha program was as good quality and content as any of them. This also includes programs I have been to with the UK Chapter. I congratulate all and say build on it and you will have more members and members from other Chapters joining with us in the future.”
Steven Miller, FAIA, RIBA
A Chapter Founder and Fellowship Director
Museum of Islamic Art Tour
Winners of AIA ME Design Awards 2014
The 2nd Annual AIA Middle East Design awards honored works of excellence in architecture by AIA ME members. The Jury included George Kunihiro, FAIA Director on the AIA Japan Chapter, Bertrand Coldefy, AIA President-elect of the AIA Continental Europe chapter, Christian Low AIA President of the AIA Hong Kong Chapter and was chaired by Steven Miller FAIA Fellow ship Director of the AIA ME chapter. Many fantastic projects were recognized, and for the first time a new award category for Architectural students was introduced, celebrating their design achievements in their academic studies.
Category: Built
Merit Award - Burj Khalifa, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Merit Award - Rolex Tower, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Category: Non-Built
Merit Award - Kingdom Tower, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Merit Award - Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Category: Interior Design
Design Award - Burj Khalifa, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Merit Award - Rolex Tower, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
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Category: URBAN DESIGN Design Award -Bahrain Bay Master Plan, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Category: STUDENT GRADUATION Merit Award - Dakhira Souq, Sara Al Ansari, Qatar University Merit Award - Acoustic Wall, American University Of Sharjah Design Award - Nexus House Of Wisdom, Karl Abi Karam, American University In Dubai
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