Remembering the Vernacular

Increasingly in Dubai’s fast-paced evolution, architects and designers are returning to the heritage design - the vernacular - in order to learn best practice from the past as they look ahead to the future.

Increasingly in Dubai’s fast-paced evolution, architects and designers are returning to the heritage design - the vernacular - in order to learn best practice from the past as they look ahead to the future.

Throughout Dubai Design Week, a number of talks and workshops within the much anticipated Public Programme will explore the role of heritage in contemporary design, including the architectural talk, Revisiting the Vernacular.

Moderated by Jonathan Ashmore of Anarchitect, Revisiting the Vernacular will see leading Dubai-based architects and industry professionals discuss the extent to which architects today are learning from the wisdom of the previous generations' traditional and vernacular architecture.

Jonanthan says: “Because of the rapid growth of the region’s built environment, it is important that we reflect on the vernacular to understand how basic local materials and shelter traditionally dealt with the harsh environment. This allows us to re-interpret and innovate new and appropriate solutions to better serve future development with a considered, informed and more contextual approach.”

The talk will cover differing perspectives from research, education and practicing architectural backgrounds. Panel members include: Brian Johnson, managing partner at Godwin Austen Johnson Architects (GAJ); Sumaya Dabbagh, principal at Dabbagh Architects; and Adina Hempel, architect, urban researcher and Asst. Prof. at the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises, Zayed University in Dubai.

During the talk, the panel will explore the vernacular in the UAE and open up the discussion across the panel to hear diverse interpretations derived from individual experiences with the subject.

The aim is to discover where true vernacular has stood the test of time and is still apparent in today's regional architecture and how the past can help to inform and develop an understanding and relationship with the future built environment.