Grant Donald To Unveil New Trends In Design & Architecture At Dubai Ideal Home Show
World-renowned landscape architect, Grant Donald will be visiting Dubai later this month (November 30th to December 3rd to unveil new trends in the world of design and architecture at the forthcoming Dubai Ideal Home Show.
With over 25 years experience Grant Donald has acquired an impressive portfolio as a Landscape Architect and Educator.
He has lectured and mentored on Landscape Architecture and Landscape Design in a host of international cities including London, Beijing, Edinburgh, Prague, Mumbai, Sydney, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Ankara. He is currently the chairman of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) committee for the development of Landscape Architecture in the African continent, as well as being the 1st western professional to become a member of a Chinese society of Landscape Architecture.
In an effort to educate the public and professionals worldwide on Landscape Architecture and Design, his work has been published in numerous journals, magazines and books in 3 different countries and several different languages. He has appeared on television in Australia and China and is currently heard weekly on radio in Dubai, sharing his knowledge and experience locally.
On several occasions Grant has assisted in judging and critiquing some of China's major development proposals, while also developing design briefs for culturally sensitive projects such as the Quranic Botanic Garden for UNESCO in Doha, Qatar.
As a Landscape Architect Grant has been associated with many of the world's most prestigious and well known projects such as Disneyland, Hong Kong and 2010 world expo site in Shanghai, PRC. He has collaborated with some of the world's greatest Architects and Engineers such as Richard Rogers & Ove Arup, and conversely has been involved with community-based projects such as developing landscape designs for aboriginal communities and schools in remote Australia.
With a passion for multi-cultural design, Grant continues to work with and educate, students, design professionals, developers and government agencies to intelligently design landscapes in an effort to enhance the built and natural environment. In a candid interview, the celebrity architect talks about his expertise
1. Your achievements have been remarkable. Could you inform the readers about a bit more of yourself?
The filed of design has taken me places, across the continents. Currently I am the chairman of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) committee for the development of Landscape Architecture in the African continent, as well as the first western professional to become the member of a Chinese society of Landscape Architecture.
Besides, I have lectured and mentored on Landscape Architecture and Landscape Design in a host of international cities including London, Beijing, Edinburgh, Prague, Mumbai, Sydney, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Ankara. So I have a quite a varied experience.
2. What could we expect at the Dubai Ideal Home Show 2006?
This year the Dubai Ideal Home Show will be more exciting with increased number of designers, chefs and experts participating in the Jotun's Inspiring Ideas Theatre and the Taste Temptation Theatre.
I will be co-hosting the Jotun's Inspiring Ideas Theatre, where my renowned colleagues, celebrities and design experts, will be explaining the latest trends in home and garden design. Visitors can also get a taste of what will be coming to the world of design and architecture, besides tips and recommendations from all of us. So this year's show is a must-visit event.
3. Is there a passion that drives your work, and achieve things in landscaping architecture?
Without passion no one can be successful in the filed of architecture and designing. It is the passion that drives the work and as for me passion for multi-cultural design.
Besides I continue to work with and educate, students, design professionals, developers and government agencies to intelligently design landscapes in an effort to enhance the built and natural environment. That is the key - the blending of natural and practical elements.
4. Could you give us an overview of your projects in other countries besides the region?
Besides those projects in this region, I have also been associated with many of the world's most prestigious and well known projects such as Disneyland, Hong Kong and 2010 world expo site in Shanghai, China.
My collaboration with some of the world's greatest Architects and Engineers such as Richard Rogers & Ove Arup is something I cherish. Conversely I am also involved with community-based projects such as developing landscape designs for aboriginal communities and schools in remote Australia.
This is part of what we could give back to the nature after enjoying nature's bounty for so long without worrying about the future generation.
5. What else can we expect at the Jotun's Inspiring Ideas Theatre?
It is a place you can witness the gathering of one of the most celebrated and reputed artists and designers. At the Jotun's Inspiring Ideas Theatre, visitors can experience live demonstrations, insights into the trials and tribulations of creating award-winning rooms and of course question and answer sessions where you can interact with the experts about your , The Jotun Inspiring Ideas Theatre will be one of the several highlights of the event.
6. Have you published any books or journals for the benefit of those interested in creating and working on their own ideas in home designing and dcor but could still take some inspiration from you?
Oh yes, my work has been published in numerous journals, magazines and books in three different countries and several different languages. Moreover, I also appear on television in Australia and China. Currently I go on air weekly on radio in Dubai, sharing my knowledge and experience locally.
7. Are there any other projects that you could be proud of besides the ones you have mentioned?
Probably the most close to my heart could be lending my assistance in judging and critiquing some of China's major development proposals. Apart from this, I have also helped in developing design briefs for culturally sensitive projects such as the Quranic Botanic Garden for UNESCO in Doha, Qatar.
8. What is specific about Dubai that interests people to visit again and again, especially professionals like you?
Oh, it is the vibrancy of the city. It could be ranked among the very top most dynamic cities in the world. I would say the multicultural mix, the progressive touch of the emirate and the visionary leadership could all be cited as reasons for this magnetic attraction.
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Show Profile:
The Ideal Home Show launched in 2005 to a fantastic reception from visitors and exhibitors. Presenting great products and entertaining celebrity presentations, it caught the imagination of the Dubai public and its media. The 2006 show is building upon this successful launch to firmly establish the Ideal Home as an annual consumer event of choice for Dubai's residents and visitors. Ideal Home provides a 'one stop shop' to see the very best that of local companies (retailers) have to offer.
Company profile:
The Messe Frankfurt Dubai team has over 20 year's experience of organising international trade fairs throughout the world. The successful portfolio of events they organise in Dubai include Intersec,Materials Handling & Logistics, Hardware & Tools, Garden + Landscaping, ISH - Kitchen + Bath,, Light Middle East, Beautyworld Middle East, Wellness & Spas Middle East, Interior Lifestyle Middle East, Hometech Middle East, Automechanika, Dubai Ideal Home Show and the Middle East Toy Fair. Messe Frankfurt is a subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt, the world's second largest trade fair organiser conducting over 100 events worldwide with 15 subsidiaries across Europe, Asia, America, Africa and the Middle East.
© Press Release 2006
