The Second Edition of “Inspiring Spaces” Young Architects Forum was held in collaboration with the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) at the GUtech Eco House project (ECOHAUS). The forum highlighted the Omani architectural scene, and was aimed at developing the skills of the new generation of Omani architects.
The event saw the attendance of several experts and specialists in the field of architectural design and urban planning, including specialists of green tourism and sustainability from the ECOHAUS project, and students studying architecture from different universities and colleges across Muscat.
Commenting on the importance of organising such events, Mohammed al Abri, CEO of Alargan Towell, commenting on the importance of organising such events, he said, “These forums provide several positive benefits for the participants; including offering them an opportunity to learn through others’ experiences in the field and stimulating discussions that follow the presented papers. This subsequently creates a positive impact on their understanding and will also be useful for them in the future. I was particularly impressed by the high level of technical and thought-provoking discussions that the students held with the presenters. This is a clear indication that the sector has a bright future ahead. As one of the leading players in the sector of real estate development, we are committed to keeping ourselves up-to-date on the latest developments and provide innovative housing solutions that will add value to our customers’ lifestyles.”
The forum also hosted the Aga Khan Award for Architecture Exhibition for the first time in Oman. Established by the Aga Khan Foundation, the award aims to identify and reward architectural concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of Islamic societies in the fields of contemporary design, social housing, community development, landscape design and improvement of the environment.
The exhibition displayed a selection of the winning works, which was a great attraction for the participants of the forum, as well as a list of candidates for the upcoming edition of the award.
Abeer Al Balushi, Head of Marketing at Alargan Towell noted, “We are extremely delighted with the success of the second edition of the forum. The primary aim of organising such events is to connect international experts in architecture and urban planning with students in Oman, who will be become potential prominent leaders in the local sector. In this edition, we invited Eka Rosraj-Kling, a winner of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, to present his leading experience in designing and building eco-friendly structures, as well as the cultural values and concepts behind it.
The forum also hosted the Aga Khan Award for Architecture Exhibition for the first time in Oman. Established by the Aga Khan Foundation, the award aims to identify and reward architectural concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of Islamic societies in the fields of contemporary design, social housing, community development, landscape design, and improvement of the environment. We would love to see more Omani participants in the upcoming editions of the award.”
Titash Chakraborty
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