ARCASIA FORUM-16 held in Viet Nam
By Ar. Maliha Valha
The 32nd Council meeting, ARCASIA Awards and ARCASIA Forum 16 was held in Da Nang, Viet Nam, hosted by Viet Nam Association of Architects from August 13-20, 2011.
Aug 13-14, 20-11 was devoted to ARCASIA Awards Jury. ARCASIA Council meetings were conducted between Aug 15-17, 2011 which were attended by members of Architectural Institutes. ARCASIA Forum 16 continued from Aug 18-19, 2011. Architectural excursions and Golf Championship were organized on Aug 20, 2011, the concluding day.
32nd ARCASIA COUNCIL MEETINGS
In the 32nd ARCASIA Council Meetings, Ar. Kalim A. Siddiqui, Vice President Zone A, participated as an Office Bearer, whereas Ar. Shahab Ghani Khan represented IAP as President IAP and Ar. Akeel Bilgrami, Chairman Board of architectural education (IAP) as the official delegate. Ar. Sohail A. Abbasi, Vice President IAP, and Ar. Faheem Ahsan Jamil represented IAP in the ARCASIA Professional Practice Committee Meeting. Ar. Jehangir Khan Sherpao represented IAP at ARCASIA Committee on Green and Sustainable architecture.
ARCASIA FORUM-16
ARCASIA Forum 16 began with a welcome ceremony that proceeded with an introduction to the Forum and Delegates. The Vice President of Vietnam Hoang Trung Hai presented a welcome note which was followed by a speech by the Chairman Da Nang's People Council, Mr. Nguyen Ba Thanh. The President ARCASIA, Ar. George Kunihiro addressed the gathering after which the President UIA , Ar. Louis Cox delivered her speech with this the welcome ceremony came to an end and lead to the opening of the Technical sessions. The forum was formulated of a total three sessions and a total of thirteen speakers.
Ar. S. Zaigham S. Jaffery and Ar. Fareeha Amjad Obaid, were the two speakers from Pakistan who presented their papers. Ar. Najeeb Omar, Ar. Samar Ali Khan, Ar. Shama Usman Chairperson PCATP, Ar. Mian Mohammad Farooq and Ar. Mujahid Sadiq were also the Forum participants from Pakistan.
Theme: Asian Cities in the
21st Century
The 21st century will be the century of rapid changes for Asian cities, probably the most rapid towards globalization. Cities have become high-performance economic growth hubs and habitation for half of the world population. In this context, the model of Global City has emerged exerting impacts to the process of development of cities in the world, transforming quickly urban spatial structures, as well as traditional urban architectural images, particularly in Asian cities.
Thus, the question is that confronting big opportunities and challenges brought by globalization and side effects of urban development, particularly in large cities in short term and not so optimistic warnings towards global climate changes in a near future, how Asian cities, particularly large cities in developing countries, including Viet Nam among others, could integrate, develop but still promote cultural values of local urban architecture, for cities to be eternally a good living environment for all of us.
These are issues that attract concerns of architects from all over the world, and were the main theme to be addressed at the ARCASIA Forum 16 in Da Nang, Viet Nam, in August 2011.
Sub-theme 1: Architecture Development Trends of
Asian Modern Cities
Advanced techniques and technologies in combination with culture have been confirmed to be secret for success in sustainable socio-economic development as well as in creation of architecture with identity. Architecture of Asian cities is of no exception.
Architecture - an artificial environment, which is developed in harmony, balance and with and friendly to the natural environment has been certainly a rightful perception and practice for the creation of safe and high-quality habitation for people. There, issues of policy, management as well as lessons from the construction history of Asia and trends of modern green architecture development have positive values.
Sub-theme 2:
Architecture Identity
of Asian Modern Cities
Urban architectural morphology reflects best the culture of urban citizens. In Asia, the multi-national and -cultural character has created traditional urban architectural identity. How the modern urban architectural identity has been established, whether it continues to affirm the "Asian value" system as humane resource are issues of interest of many experts, including architects.
Sub-theme 3: Disaster
Prevention and Recovery
In recent years, Asia has been the target of major natural disasters. Earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, typhoons have caused great damages throughout the region. In the light of the greatest natural catastrophe to hit Japan in the history of the Nation, the ARCASIA Forum 16 organized a special session to report on the State of the post-disaster by the representative of the Recovery effort from the JIA.
The Forum began with a Welcome Ceremony which proceeded with an introduction to the Forum and Delegates. A speech was made by the Vice President of Vietnam, Mr. Hoang Trung Hai followed by a Welcome note by the Chairman of Danang,s People Council, Mr. Nguyen Ba Thanh. The President ARCASIA, Ar. George Kunihiro, delivered his speech followed by Ar. Louis Cox President UIA. With this the welcome ceremony came to an end and gave way to the technical sessions.