There’s a new architecture showcase coming to the shores of the United Arab Emirates. Organized by Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi, the leader of Sharjah’s urban planning council, the inaugural Sharjah Architecture Triennial will bring architecture exhibitions and events to its namesake city over 12 weeks beginning November 2019.
The Triennial will focus not only capital A architecture, but on urban planning and design. Al Qasimi, the Triennial chairman, commented on the event in a statement:
“This is a crucial moment in the understanding and development of architecture and urban planning of the MENASA region. The regional urban landscape is evolving at a tremendous speed and impacting how urban dwellers interact amongst themselves. Sharjah Architecture Triennial will offer an accessible platform for critical reflection on the social and cultural issues that we face at both regional and international levels. Through the creative process of this exchange, we believe that we can arrive at new ways of designing cities.”
The Sharjah Architecture Triennial is calling itself the “first major platform to invite dialogue on architecture and urbanism in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.” The city is the third largest in the UAE, behind Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The event committee is planning discussions and lectures in the lead-up to fall 2019. This Saturday, April 7, a panel on Gulf Cities’ morphology will be hosted at the American University of Sharjah in collaboration with Sharjah Directorate of Town Planning and Survey.
