A series of public talks, a conference and an exhibition will examine the architectural heritage of Qatar and the Gulf at Qatar National Library throughout October.
The events are part of the Library’s Gulf Architecture Project (GAP), which was launched in January of this year in collaboration with Qatar’s architecture community and the world’s leading research center for the study of traditional Gulf architecture at Liverpool University’s School of Architecture.
The collaborative undertaking aims to establish a digital repository of historical photographs, films and audio recordings, drawings, maps and 3D digital content on the traditional architecture of Qatar and the Gulf region, with accompanying research.
A series of weekly lectures throughout the month will take a closer look at the different dimensions of the region’s architectural heritage. The public talks will be held in English every Wednesday of the month starting on 9 October.
The Gulf Architecture Conference and Exhibition, organized by the Library in collaboration with Liverpool University’s School of Architecture, Qatar University’s Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, and Ibrahim Jaidah, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Architect, Arab Engineering Bureau, takes place from 10 – 13 October.
Dr. James Onley, Director of Historical Research and Partnerships at the Library, said: “The Gulf Architecture Exhibition and Conference promotes a broader understanding of architecture as an important aspect of our region’s identity and heritage. Traditional architecture is one of the most important aspects of a nation’s heritage and material culture. Qatar’s historic buildings offered more than protection from the elements or invaders—they were the physical manifestation of Qatar’s cultural identity.”
The Gulf Architecture Exhibition opens on Thursday, 10 October, which is curated by Liverpool University and the Arab Engineering Bureau in Qatar.
The conference opens on Friday, 11 October, and continues on 12 and 13 October to offer three days of expert panel discussions and insightful presentations.
Throughout the conference, researchers, academics, architects, students and the general public will have the opportunity to engage with more than 30 distinguished local and international speakers and panelists from academia and the private sector.
Key speakers include: Ibrahim Jaidah; Mohammed Ali Abel, head of architectural department at the Private Engineering Office, Government of Qatar; Soumyen Bandyopadhyay, co-convener, exhibition co-curator and project lead from the University of Liverpool; Fodil Fadli, co-convener and head of the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Qatar University; and Rob Carter, project consultant, University of Liverpool.
Dr. Haitham Al-Abri, the conference convener and coordinator for the Gulf Architecture Project at the Library, added: “We are pleased to welcome leading experts in the field who will share their knowledge and fascinating insights at the Library. We are proud to be taking this important discussion beyond the realm of academics and researchers and into the community. We invite everyone interested in Gulf architecture and heritage to attend.”
To learn more about the GAP Conference and Exhibition, please visit https://www.qnl.qa/en/exhibitions/current.
