Islamic Architecture – Preserving the Past & Reimagining the Future

Join us for a fascinating event exploring the past, present, and future of Islamic architecture. This seminar is perfect for anyone interested in architecture, history, or Islamic culture.

Our event will feature renowned architects and experts in the field of Islamic architecture, who will share their knowledge and expertise on the topic. You will learn about the rich history of Islamic architecture, from its early origins to its modern-day manifestations.

Throughout the event there will be discussions around the preservation of Islamic architecture and the importance of cultural heritage. You will also have the chance to explore the future possibilities of Islamic architecture, including the use of modern technology and sustainable design.

By the end of the seminar, you will have gained a deep appreciation for the beauty and complexity of Islamic architecture, as well as an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the field today.

Whether you are an architect looking to expand your knowledge and skills, or simply someone interested in learning more about Islamic architecture, this event is not to be missed. So, join us today and discover the wonders of Islamic architecture!

If you can't attend live don't worry - as a ticket holder you get access to the recording of the event so you can watch it back at your leisure.

Sadeeq members attend this event free. For more information and to join, check out our Membership page.

SPEAKER BIOS

Shahed Saleem is Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Cities where he leads a BA Design and MArch Dissertation studio. His particular research and practice interests are in the architecture of migrant and diasporic communities, and in particular their relationship to heritage, belonging and nationhood.

Shahed was commissioned by English Heritage to research and write the architectural and social history of the British Mosque, published by Historic England in 2018. He continues to research, write and lecture extensively. Hefounded East London architectural practice Makespace in the early 2000s through which he has worked with a range of clients including faith communities in designing and delivering places of worship.

He was invited to co-curate the V&A pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2021, and collaborated in the design of a public installation at the Folkestone Triennial 2021 and he continues to develop public art work. His design work has been nominated for the V&A Jameel Prize 2013 and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2016 and his research work won a RIBA President’s Medal for Research commendation 2020 and was nominated for the Historic England Angel Award and the SAHGB Colvin Prize 2019. More info

Safoura Zahedi is an architect, artist and design educator based in Toronto, Canada. Her architectural experience includes a diverse range of national and international projects including institutional, commercial, and cultural. Her independent creative practice operates at the intersection of art and architecture, where she explores geometry as a language of Unity through a process of merging traditional analogue design methods with contemporary digital technology and fabrication. For the last year, her interests in Islamic geometry led her on a year of travels across the Muslim world to conduct field-based research on the evolution of geometric arts across historically significant Islamic regions.

Safoura’s dedication to leadership in the design community includes her role as Lecturer at the School of Interior Design at Toronto Metropolitan University, Executive at Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAT), and Programs Coordinator at the DesignTO Festival, Canada’s largest annual design festival. More info 

Lina Ahmad is Associate Professor and the Chair of Design at the College of Arts & Creative Enterprises at Zayed University.  Lina Ahmad holds a Masters of Architecture from the Architectural Association School of Architecture, and has over 10 years of UAE professional experience working across different sectors and project stages; ranging between design work from proposing alternate schemes to detailing and executing architectural packages, participating in projects’ execution and site supervision. Lina’s work has been awarded and exhibited, including contributions for the National Pavilion UAE at the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale. Her work has been published and presented at various conferences around the world, including at the Smithsonian Institute’s Folklife Festival, 2022, Washington DC. Ahmad is passionate about Modern Architectural Heritage in the UAE, VR digital immersion and she is an advocate of digital fabrication technology and its impact in regional higher education and UAE Creative Industry. More info 

Marco Sosa is an RIBA registered Architect, Associate Professor of Interior Design, and the Research Coordinator for the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi.  Sosa holds a BA(Hons) in architecture, a postgraduate diploma and MA in Architecture and has over 10 years of experience in the UK industry. In 2012, Sosa published a book about the oldest functional mosque in the UAE, titled; "Al Bidiya Mosque, A visual Essay".  In 2014, Marco was appointed part of the curatorial team as Head of Design, for the First National Pavilion for the UAE at the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale, the exhibition, titled “Lest We Forget; Structures of Memory in the UAE”, chartered the impact of modernist architecture in the UAE. In 2022, Sosa exhibited his research as part of the United Arab Emirates: Living Landscape | Living Memory exhibition, a program at the 56th annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Washington DC, 2022. Sosa has designed exhibitions, published various academic papers and presented at various conferences around the world about his architectural photography and Modern Architectural Heritage in the UAE, VR digital immersion and the continuous development of Design education in the UAE. More info

Hussain Al Moosawi is an Emirati communication designer and photographer. The UAE has famously undergone extraordinary shifts during the past few decades to exist at the forefront of modernity. In an attempt to preserve the ever-changing nature of this landscape, Emirati photographer and graphic designer Hussain Al-Moosawi has dedicated his future to capturing architecture – both appreciated and overlooked – by means of his iconic graphic style. Trained in Australia and currently based in Abu Dhabi, he worked as an infographic artist at The National newspaper for the last four years, where he was responsible for generating its infographic content across print and digital platforms. More info