The talk aimed to define architecture pedagogical models in the region and its balance between experimentation and professional practice.

This talk was broadcasted on the d3 Architecture Festival website on 13 November, Friday 5pm.

Moderated by Juan Roldan

About the Speakers:

Juan Roldan
Associate Professor, College of Architecture, Art and Design, American University of Sharjah
Juan Roldan is a Spanish architect and educator. Roldan is an Associate Professor of Architecture and Interior Design at the College of Architecture, Art, and Design. Roldan now serves as curator of the first edition of the d3 Architectural Festival 2020 (Dubai Design District in partnership with RIBA Gulf).

Omran Alowais
Owner & Creative Director of Ardh
Omran is a graduate of American University of Sharjah (B.Arch) and Paris-Sorbonne Abu Dhabi (M.Urban Planning). He first started by managing his family's real estate developments and developing commercial and residential projects. He is now the founder of Ardh, a studio focusing on local innovative architecture and design solutions.

Dr. Harpreet Seth
Head of Architecture, Director of Studies. Herriot Watt University Dubai Campus
Dr Harpreet Seth, Associate Professor is the Head of Architecture and Director of Studies in the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS) at Heriot-Watt University Dubai (HWUD). She played an instrumental role in establishing the Architecture programme at HWUD, a RIBA Part 1 candidate course. Her current role is characterized by a strong commitment to a distinctive pedagogy which addresses current and future challenges through design and critical thinking in architectural education within the region. Her research interests continue to be the microcosm of built structures within the macro urban setting that is focused on people.

Aisha Al Sager
Managing Director, AGi architect
Alsager oversees a number of projects spanning a range of program, scale, typology, complexity and overall firm and team strategy in Kuwait City. Alsager has over ten years’ experience in design, project management and construction administration.

George Katodrytis
Head of the Department of Architecture, College of Architecture, Art and Design, American University of Sharjah
He studied and taught at the Architectural Association and the Bartlett in London. He built a number of projects as well as published widely on contemporary architecture, urbanism, cultural theory and digital media. He is the co-editor of the Architectural Design issue ‘UAE and the Gulf: Architecture and Urbanism Now’.