Leading international architects to address Abu Dhabi conference

The speakers will share their insights on a wide variety of topics including the concept of wholelife value of buildings, environmentally sustainable construction techniques, as well as other key issues confronting the Middle East building industry from an architectural stand-point.

The International Union of Architects (UIA) is working with Reed Exhibitions Middle East to host the International Architects Conference which is themed around "Fair Practices in the Building Sector".

The conference is taking place in parallel with Reed's Building Futures Gulf by BATIMAT industry event that is being held in Abu Dhabi, 20 - 23 April, 2008 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The UIA was founded in 1948 to offer an international platform for architects of all countries as a federation of national organizations.

The UIA now represents some 1.4 million architects in more than 100 countries.
Gaetan Siew, President of UIA, said: "The UIA is very pleased to have our international conference in parallel with the Building Futures Gulf by BATIMAT event in Abu Dhabi. Although Abu Dhabi is home to one of the world's biggest oil and gas reserves, it has chosen to be both respectful of its environment and to be innovative and thematic in developing its future".

"It has chosen to be a centre for cultural excellence internationally by having the Sorbonne University and the Louvre and Guggenheim museums" he said, pointing out that Abu Dhabi is following a multi-disciplinary, sustainable approach in its development strategy.
"Abu Dhabi has chosen to be green innovatively" he added, "We wish to be part of this overall approach and contribute to the city's development and are therefore proud to host this conference in Abu Dhabi".

Among the leading speakers who will address the UIA conference is the celebrated French architect Odile Decq, owner of the world renowned architecture firm, Odile Decq Benoit Cornette Architects and Planners in Paris.

Decq is the winner of numerous awards and recognitions including the "Legion d'Honneur" in 2003. She has designed several iconic buildings including the L Museum in Austria that houses a private collection of contemporary art, and the Bordeaux Mérignac Airport's control tower.

She will address a session entitled "The Whole life value concept for cost effective and sustainable buildings". Professor German Suarez Betancourt from Colombia will also speak at this session.

Greek architect, Nikos Fintikakis, Director of the UIA's "ARES" (Architecture and Renewable Energy Sources) programme and deputy member of the UIA Council will address a session on Air Quality and Energy Savings along with French architect Jean-Marie Charpentier.

Charpentier is a Member of the UIA Board, Vice-President of the French Academy of Architecture and an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

He has completed major projects in France as well as internationally, including the Shanghai Opera House. Vivianna Metallinou from Greece who is an expert on city architecture as well as the restoration and reuse of historic settlements and buildings, and bioclimatic design, will speak on integrating renewable energy sources in modern buildings while Tunisia's Taoufik El Euch and Lebanon's Michel Barmaki will address a session titled "Energetic performance: The new challenge for Middle East buildings".

Dr. Rod Hackney, Managing Director, Rod Hackney & Associates Ltd - UK, an expert on community residential housing schemes involving self help and self management by the users will speak on the impact of new equipment in the global conception of buildings. He will be joined by Nigerian architect, Olufemi Majekodunmi, the former President of the UIA, who will also speak on this topic.

Gunham Danisman, Vice-President of the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Architects in Turkey will highlight the ways in which Structural Technologies contribute to the life span of a building. The second speaker at this session is David Baggs, a multi-award winning Architect and Sustainability Consultant from Australia. Massimo Fiorasa from Italy will address a session titled, "Living façade for sustainable architecture".

"Architects have always been key stakeholders in the Middle East's building industry and the industry has thus far laid strong emphasis in creating buildings based on innovative designs. What is more encouraging however is that the focus is now shifting to creating buildings that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but are also built on environmentally sound principles such as energy-efficiency",

said Frederic Theux, President of Reed Exhibitions Middle East.

"We are very pleased to provide the building industry in the region, the opportunity to benefit from an excellent learning opportunity at the International Architects Conference. By co-locating this Conference with the Building Futures Gulf by BATIMAT show, we have created a comprehensive platform for the building industry in the region to meet, network, discuss and capitalize on business opportunities", said Frederic Theux, President of Reed Exhibitions Middle East", Theux said.

The UIA Conference will also feature representatives from some of the leading players in the building sector including Johnson Controls, Somfy, Technal, Schneider Electric, St. Gobain Glass, Tabreed, Corus, GE, Kimmco/Isover, Knauf and UTS Carrier.

b>BUILDING FUTURES GULF by BATIMAT is the first regional edition of the BATIMAT international exhibition will be held in Abu Dhabi during April 20-23, 2008 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The show organised by Reed Exhibitions Middle East marks the Middle East debut of the world-famous BATIMAT building show and will consist of four co-located events devoted to high-performance buildings:

1. Structure Gulf Exhibition
- (structural technologies and implementation techniques);
2. Envelope Gulf Exhibition
- (solutions for cladding, façade, joinery and shutters);
3. Intelligent Building Gulf Exhibition
- (solutions, systems and networks to improve user comfort inside a building); and
4. HVAC Gulf Exhibition
- (thermal comfort solutions focusing on temperature and air control, energy, plumbing and water treatment).

Also there is a dedicated services area for companies offering solutions to the building sector. Reed is partnering with the International Union of Architects (UIA) to host the show.

Over 200 exhibitors representing around 25 countries are expected to take part in the show. Exhibitors include leading industry names such as Siemens Building Technologies, Knauf, Saint Gobain Glass, AFICO - Owens Corning, KME, Technal, Emirates Iron & Steel, Unibeton, Tabreed, Siplast - AMC Protection, Dow Corning, Somfy, Kingspan, Corus, Giesse, Gulf Extrusions, Econosto, Akzo Nobel and Swegen.