Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus set its design students a challenge to re-introduce public squares into cities which are bursting as urban density continues to increase.

Public spaces are vital for providing common ground for social interaction and recreation. They are critical to creating a sense of belonging and encouraging wholesome living for a diverse population – they are places where people can share the ideas and culture.

Inspired by the public square at the centre of college campus life, this design challenge requires students to select a real site within the UAE, and propose an innovative model for public space through an architectural design intervention. Their installation needs to inhabit a 3.5m x3.5mx3.5m space and create a magnetic and memorable experience in the context of the current digital age when new technologies are changing the way we interact.

Each submission to the design challenge must capture the three pillars of social sustainability - environment, economy and equity. Designs require the efficient use of resources and building materials, great visual and experiential impact, and the creation of a sense of vibrancy, playfulness and connectivity which is essential to a thriving community living within a city.

The launch of the project is 27th September.

Image Credits:
Thumbnail: Gwangju Cube, NADAAA Architects
Header: www.dailymail.co.uk
Gallery: Gwangju Cube, NADAAA Architects

About Heriot-Watt University and Dr. Harpreet Seth
Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus was established in 2005 as the first campus of an overseas university to open in Dubai International Academic City. Pioneering British education in Dubai through highly acclaimed degree programmes, it meets the specific demands of local business and industry.

Dr. Harpreet Seth graduated from Chandigarh College of Architecture, India, before completing a Master’s at the School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi, and gaining a Doctorate from the University of Wolverhampton in 2013. After steering her own architecture and interior design practice in Dubai for a decade, she became an academic, teaching at some of the most noted institutions in the UAE including Heriot-Watt University Dubai where she is Associate Professor of Architecture. She has been awarded the Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) from the UK and is a member of the Council of Architecture in India and the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID) in the UAE.

Professor Seth is well known for her project-based approach to teaching, her research in the microcosm of built structures within the macro urban setting, and her focus on creating more liveable environments. She is also a founder member of Urban Sketchers Dubai (USD), and a certified yoga teacher.