the Second AA Muscat Visiting School concluded with an exhibition held at GUtech - students depart for a visit to the AA School and London
MUSCAT International architecture students along with GUtech students from Oman participated in the second Visiting School of the Architectural School London held at GUtech over the past two weeks. On Saturday evening the students exhibited their work outside the GUtech Airport campus. A total of 18 students from Oman, UK, Iran, Pakistan, and Taiwan participated in the workshop, which was built around the theme 'Patterns'.
The students were inspired to think out of the box and beyond their usual architectural studies. During the workshop the 18 students created ideas for a unique structural pattern that can be used for the design of a pavilion to be built at the new GUtech campus in Halban. With different materials such as gypsum, wires or fabrics, the students reflected the patterns of a spider web, a palm tree, a gooseberry, a coral and others. "I think this is one of the most exciting events of the AA School in London. In this workshop many different nations come together, we all learn and create fantastic things together. The idea is that the students are like seeds that will grow and make the architects of the future," said Omid Kamvari, Architect and Director of the AA Muscat Visiting School during the inauguration of the student exhibition. Like last year a number of GUtech students of the department of Urban Planning and Architectural Design participated in the Workshop: "The field of Architecture is very relevant for Oman. Therefore, we are very proud to collaborate in an architectural workshop with the renown AA School in London," said Professor Dr. Burkhard Rauhut, Rector of GUtech.
"Finding inspiration for designs in natural patterns is a useful method, because it emphasizes the performance of a structure more than the appearance. The form of a design is only a result of different forces, and not just a fancy idea." Said Nikolaus Knebel, Associate Professor of Architectural and Urban Design at GUtech and Co-organizer of the AA Muscat Visiting School.
During the workshop the students worked individually as well as in a collaborative team and were encouraged to design their own unique patterns. Different kind of techniques were used to create folded, hanging or woven structures. Shareen Hossein, GUtech student, was inspired by the shape of a coral. "We analyzed the pattern of the coral and transferred these components into a structural design, which could develop into architecture."
Maryam Al Taef, architecture graduate from Lahore along with Rowa el Zain of GUtech analyzed the structure of fibres that are found in the stem of a palm tree. "We were interested in studying the aspects of light and shadow. It was really interesting to work with the AA. We never thought that we could realize such structures."
Nushrat Jahan and Maysa Al Madhari translated the idea of a cabbage and a gooseberry. "We used one simple large fabric. We poured the gypsum, the strings controlled the surface of the fabric. We can learn from the pattern how the forces influence the surface," said Nushrat.
Nadine al Tall and Talal al Haremi, GUtech students created a kind of DNA structure. "We started our project with different ideas and followed on with looking at the structure of a banana trunk, which has different layers. We then combined our ideas with the hierarchy of the roots," said Nadine.
Nadine and four other GUtech students will travel to London in the next days and participate in a visit to the AA Architecture School in London. "We will discuss with students, engineers and architects there and develop a pattern for the pavilion project that will be built at GUtech." She said.
The participation of some students and their trip to London is sponsored by Areej Vegetable Oil & Derivates, Sadolin Paint, Technical Administrative Training Institute, and Oriental Group of Companies.
After the success of the two AA workshops held at GUtech, the organizers are planning another workshop next year. "For sure, we will have a third AA Visiting School in Muscat and at GUtech next year in September," said Omid Kamvari. Interested professionals and students in the field of architecture and design are invited to apply and join in next time.
Having participated in the AA workshop, the students are members of the Architectural Association (AA) and can take part in online lectures by the world's leading architects and use the AA's research facilities. "The AA school was really a challenge. We learnt that we had to find our own ways through experimenting with different structures. We took materials from the shoe-shop to the building material shop," said Shahareen.
The Architectural Association in London is a renowned institution for the education of architects, with a special emphasis on unconventional approaches to designing. The AA Visiting Schools, which take place every year in collaboration with more than 30 universities around the world, introduce this AA way of thinking and working on designs to different local contexts. The German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) was chosen as a local partner in Oman.
For further details about the AA Visting School Muscat, please visit following website: www.aaschool.ac.uk as well as www.gutech.edu.om
Mit besten Gruessen
Manuela Gutberlet
Public Relations Manager
German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech)
Tel: +968 2461 6681
Fax: +968 2461 6677 | GSM: +968 923 48 197
PO Box 1816, Athaibah, PC 130, Sultanate of Oman
Sultan Qaboos Highway, direction Muscat Intern. Airport, exit Petrol Station
Building 636
www.gutech.edu.om
© Press Release 2012
