LAST NIGHT WAS THE LAUNCHING EVENT Of the Real Estate Initiative of my university at the Waterfront Hall (Belfast). It was a well-attended occasion where Daniel Libeskind, a well-known international architect was the guest lecturer.
The University of Ulster spearheaded this Initiative project through the Faculty of Art, Design and the Built Environment where I am currently pursuing my PhD in Engineering.
Just to give you a brief background, this Initiative aims to "bring key stakeholders in the built environment in Ireland together to drive forward world class research and to assist public sector policy decision making". This project is modelled from Harvard University of Graduate School of Design's effort to foster collaborations between research and teaching in real estate investment, urban development and design.
It was a rare opportunity to listen from a prestigious and well-awarded architect who happens to design and build iconic structures worldwide, including the on-going redevelopment of the former location of the Twin Towers in New York. It was a delight for the audience especially for young practitioners in architecture and design, and even to civil engineers like me to be informed of Libeskind's future vision of redeveloping towns and cities. Different forms and angles, different materials and mix of uses somehow pose major challenges and compromises on the part of the various stakeholders. Looking at those designs presented during the lecture, I was smiling and thinking that Libeskind's ideas make civil engineers' tasks more challenging!
On the other hand, his concept is also related to my piece of PhD research which I started two years ago which brings sustainability in redeveloping towns and cities through mixed-use development - rebuilding these brownfield areas into dynamic, profitable, liveable and less polluted neighbourhoods.
Details of Libeskind's master plan for the former site of the World Trade Centre or the present location of Ground Zero can be viewed at: Daniel Libeskind
The photos above show the slide presentation of some of the stunning projects of Libeskind, while the photos below shows Libeskind himself talking to one the PhD students of the university, while Prof Adair (one of my research supervisors and the Dean of the Faculty) attentively listening.
