This masterclass focused on thinking critically about housing in the UAE and Gulf region.

This masterclass focused on thinking critically about housing in the UAE and Gulf region. Participants were asked to reconsider typical 1, 2 or 3 bedroom models, dominant within the regional real estate market, and instead think creatively about live/work models that are better suited to the transient work force and dynamic social conditions of Gulf Cities in a post-pandemic era. A number of alternative models for housing, shaped by cultural and economic forces were presented in a brief lecture and new methodologies for housing design were discussed. A short design exercise sparked critical thinking about our domestic environments and considered ways in which they can be better designed for our contemporary needs, desires and habits.

Age: 18+

About the Facilitator:

Jason Carlow holds a B.A. in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard University and a Master of Architecture from Yale University and is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the American University of Sharjah. His recent work focuses on issues surrounding housing for dense urban environments and he is the co-author of the forthcoming book, Cities of Repetition: Hong Kong’s Privately Developed Housing Estates.