A Lecture by the Chief Commissioner of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority entitled Architects Landscape Architects Visual Thinkers

Within the framework of the Golden Jubilee’s celebrations for the Faculty of Architectural Engineering at Beirut Arab University, a valuable lecture was held for the Chief Commissioner of Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority in the Hashemite Jordanian Kingdom  Prof. Dr. Kamel Mahadin. The lecture which was held on the 12th of April 2013 at Beirut Site was entitled “Architects, Landscape Architects: Visual Thinkers”  shed the light on the architectural vision, elaborating on how to utilize internal and external spaces in urban design.
 

Prof. Mahadin is one of the most prominent active architects in the field of environmental design, and has worked on the designs of dozens of projects in the Middle East. He also has various publications in the fields of Architecture and Landscaping.

The lecture was attended by the President of BAU  Prof. Amr Galal El Adawi, Vice-President for Medical Affairs, Prof. Dr. Essam Osman, Secretary-General, Mr. Issam Houri, the deans of Faculties, staff-members and the students of the Faculty of Architectural Engineering.

After welcoming Prof. Mahadin, Prof. El Adawi presented him as “an influential architect in landscaping and environmental designs that bring together the Eastern and European character, and that simulate the tastes, intellectual visions and aesthetics that combine the past and the present.”

In his turn, Prof. Mahadin presented a description of the elements of architectural design based on the identification of the area, the space and its inhabitants, as well as the definitive aspect of architectural character and the importance of maintaining measurements and standards, together with a study of the needs to be fulfilled in terms of modernity and development.

Mahadin stressed on the most significant element to be taken into consideration before any design can be made, namely the preservation of the “aroma” of the place, or the creation of one that is suitable for the time and place, as this is the most important element to assist in urban construction.

He, further, urged the architects to set their designs in accordance with the external element, not only the internal, of the place. A landscape architect has to be familiar with fauna of the surroundings. 

Mahadin praised the architectural design of the BAU Campus in Debbieh, pointing out that the interior and exterior spaces simulate in their design the surrounding environment. These had been designed with great care and made available to the students for utmost benefit.