Contextual Architecture: Conference, Workshop and Competition Completed
Vahid Ghobadian and Jihad Awad explored cultural context through Istanbul and Dubai at the Contextual Architecture event, with three days of workshops connecting theory and design practice.
The “Contextual Architecture: Conference, Workshop and Competition” event at İstanbul Nişantaşı University NeoTech Campus concluded with informative presentations and workshops focused on developing skills. In her opening remarks, Assistant Professor Paria Valizadeh emphasised that architecture extends beyond constructing buildings. The event attracted strong participation.
Dr. Vahid Ghobadian compared the architectural cultures of Dubai and İstanbul, explaining traditional Arab architecture’s influence on Dubai’s contemporary buildings. Drawing on examples of contextual architectural harmony in European settings such as Italy, he highlighted details students should consider. Prof. Jihad Awad discussed the importance of contextualism and the identity problems created when modern buildings disregard contextual elements. In the discussion session, Dr. Ghobadian and Prof. Awad held a productive debate on relationships between İstanbul’s rich architectural heritage and similar structures in Dubai, and differences between modern and postmodern approaches. The first day concluded with workshops where the speakers developed their presentations through practical exercises.
On the second and third days, speakers continued workshops with students. Dr. Vahid Ghobadian and Prof. Jihad Awad explored contextual architectural approaches practically, enabling students to apply theoretical knowledge. These sessions deepened participants’ understanding of cultural and environmental harmony in architecture and helped them develop new perspectives through the architectural heritage of different regions such as Dubai and İstanbul.
