An exhibition series by architecture students and curated by Dr. Harpreet Seth, Ode to the Pause characterised and presented different transitional processes of the spaces in the city and the dwelling units of its citizens.

The COVID-19 pandemic, and lockdown measures put in place across the world, have meant that people were forced to pause and adapt. We humans lead very busy lives and must make time to pause. Shedding light on innovative and conscious architectural design provides the opportunity for the spatial break that varies from entrance lobbies, porches, corridors, courtyards and left over negative spaces, the in-between spaces in the city which subconsciously give us an opportunity to 'pause' - to breathe freely, relax our minds and start a dialogue. It is this intangible feeling of space that is the 'pause place' that gives us the buffer or a spot to be still or interact as we may desire.

The work on display by third-year architecture students at Heriot Watt University Dubai explored these smaller parts to the bigger whole through abstraction, employing different mediums of collaging, photomontages, doodling and sketching to add values to the transition process by maximizing pausing opportunities to encourage the city to slow down and recharge. These abstractions challenge the wider design community to create 'pause spaces' to reflect, gather, and interact.

Image credits: Year 3 students, Heriot Watt University Dubai

About Heriot Watt University

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and practical, leading-edge research, which has made it one of the top UK Universities for business and industry. We connect with industries at every level and develop programmes to match their needs – so employers get work-ready, industry-fit graduates.

We are a truly global university and named by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide as International University of the Year 2018. Our global campuses are situated in some of the world’s most inspiring locations in Scotland, Dubai and Malaysia. Each of our campuses offers superb facilities and a unique learning environment.

We are specialists in business, engineering, design and the physical, social and life sciences – subjects which make a real impact on the world and society.

About Harpreet Seth

Dr. Harpreet Seth, Head of Architecture, Associate Professor at Heriot Watt University Dubai has teaching experience of more than 20 years. She was instrumental in establishing the Architecture program at the Dubai campus. She supervises PhD and Msc. students with a keen interest in the built environment. Well known for her innovative studio project based teaching and learning approaches, she has won accolades including the Pandemic Hero Award, the Global Values Award, the EIGS Graduate Award and Learning and Teaching Oscars from Heriot Watt University. She is a member of the Council of Architecture in India and Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID) in UAE. She is an avid sketcher and founder member of Urban Sketchers Dubai (USD).