NEWS

The "Contextual Architecture: Conference, Workshop, and Competition" event was successfully completed at Istanbul Nişantaşı University NeoTech Campus, offering insightful presentations and skill-enhancing workshops. In the opening remarks, Dr. Paria Valizadeh emphasized that architecture is not merely about constructing buildings, setting the tone for the event, which saw a strong turnout.

In his presentation, Dr. Vahid Ghobadian compared the architectural cultures of Dubai and Istanbul, discussing the influence of traditional Arab architecture on Dubai's contemporary buildings. He also highlighted examples from European cities, like Italy, illustrating contextual architectural harmony and drawing students' attention to key details. Prof. Jihad Awad discussed the importance of contextualism and addressed the identity issues created when modern buildings lack contextual elements. During the discussion segment, Dr. Ghobadian and Prof. Awad engaged in a productive debate, exploring the relationships between Istanbul's rich architectural heritage and similar structures in Dubai, as well as the distinctions between modern and postmodern approaches.

The first day concluded with workshops, whr speakers continued their discussions in a hands-on format for students. On the second and third days, the speakers continued to engage with students in workshops, alowing them to apply theoretical knowledge in practical contexts. Dr. Vahid Ghobadian and Prof. Jihad Awad explored contextual architectural approaches in practice, enabling students to bridge theory and practice. These practical sessions helped participants gain a deeper understanding of the importance of cultural and environmental harmony in architecture and offered new perspectives on the architectural legacies of different regions, such as Dubai and Istanbul.