The Urbanism Hour: An Introduction to 21st Century Gulf Urbanism
This online Urbanism Hour will introduce the work of urbanists across the Gulf states, rooted in climate-responsive design
The Urbanism Hours are virtual lunch time events that explore a given theme within the built environment, with a few speakers and a Q&A discussion. For October's Urbanism Hour we'll be joined by members of the AoU's network in the Gulf, Dr Nadine Bitar Chahine, Jason Carlow, and Sandra Woodall.
This session will introduce the work of urbanists across the Gulf states and identify how the DNA of traditional desert urbanism rooted in climate-responsive design and community cohesion when embedded into contemporary practice enriches and exemplifies solutions for 21st Century rapid urbanisation in extreme climates.
From the pillars of practice, policy and academia we look at the impact being achieved in shaping contemporary cities that are not only adaptive but are socially and culturally grounded in one of the fastest growing and environmentally challenging regions of the world.
Drawing on perspectives that highlight how lessons from vernacular desert settlements are informing innovative approaches to liveability, resilience, and sustainability in rapidly expanding Gulf cities.
Bringing insights, and critical reflection, to open dialogue on the role of urbanism in contexts where climate change, population growth, and global ambition converge with the legacies of the past to meet the challenges of the present to shape our cities of the future.
Speakers:
Dr Nadine Bitar Chahine
Co_Founder and Managing Partner, Baladiya Catalyst
A dynamic urban strategist bridging policy and design, Nadine holds advanced degrees spanning urban design to public policy and sustainable development. Coupled with deep analytical skills and technical expertise Nadine is an active proponent significantly shaping Public Private Partnership-led urban strategies and projects advancing liveable, smart, and resilient urban futures throughout the MENA region.
She is adept at formulating and implementing urban policies, strategies and spatial plans aligned to local priorities while maintaining strategic vision on global urban issues and latest practises.
Her deep analytical abilities and technical expertise ensures that she continues to drive positive transformation in the urban realm having contributed to the planning and design of 40 districts across MENA and advised on urban policies and urban strategies for cities including Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Dubai, Sharjah, Makkah, and Jeddah.
Jason Carlow
Head of Architecture Department at the American University of Sharjah, UAE and Author.
Jason is an award-winning designer, researcher and educator, whose work has been published widely and exhibited internationally. Including at venues such as biennales of architecture and urbanism in Venice, Beijing, Hong Kong/Shenzhen and Sao Paulo. His recent work investigates ways in which digital design and production strategies can address the problems associated with mass produced, overly standardised environments.
As an academic leader in East Asia and the Gulf Region, Carlow has dedicated his time and energy to teaching design studios and constructing academic curricula that propose innovative and creative solutions to the challenges of urbanisation for the 21st Century.
His scholarly focus includes high-rise, high density urbanism and recently published the peer-reviewed book, Cities of Repetition: Hong Kong’s Private Housing Estates (AR+D Publications 2024) with co-author Christian Lange. Providing a comprehensive documentation and analysis of Hong Kong's massively scaled, highly standardised, private housing estates.
Sandra Woodall
A passionate environmentalist, architect, and urbanist, Sandra has been at the forefront of advancing sustainable developments across the Gulf region for more than three decades. As Design Principal of tangram architects’ MENA studio, based in Abu Dhabi, she has led the delivery of regionally significant social and critical infrastructure projects that shape communities and strengthen resilience whilst impacting policy and sustainability rating system standards.
Her career in the Gulf began in the mid-1990s with the post-implementation analysis and evolution of the Al Ain City Master Plan, UAE, at the time the fastest changing city on the Arabian Peninsula. This experience sparked a lifelong dedication to understanding desert urbanism and developing projects that respect and respond to the region’s unique context and cultural identity.
Sandra’s work embodies collaboration, thought leadership, and innovation, uniting tradition with modernity to address the Gulf’s most pressing environmental and urban challenges while establishing new standards for sustainable practice. Her impact was formally recognised when, nearly a decade ago, she became the first architect based in the GCC to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
