Architect Middle East – August 2019

Sharjah Architecture Triennial to take place across

two regenerated civic buildings

The Sharjah Architecture Triennial
will launch its inaugural edition in No-
vember 2019, taking place across two
civic buildings in Sharjah as part of the
platform’s commitment towards adap-
tive reuse and preservation of modern-
ist architecture.
The two recently decommissioned
buildings include Al-Qasimiyah
School and the old Al Jubail Vegetable
Market, both of which act as examples
of 1970s and 80s architecture found
across Sharjah and the wider UAE.
Architecture from this area is ‘un-
dervalued’ according to Mona El
Mousfy, advisor to the triennial.
During a previous interview with
Middle East Architect, she said: “What
happens here is that when a building

is no longer structurally sound, the

municipality makes the decision to

demolish it, and up until now the ar-

chitecture from the 1960s, 70s and 80s

was not considered very valuable.” She

added that government initiatives have

until recently prioritised other types

of architecture, such as the coral struc-

tures found in the Heart of Sharjah.

“Not only is this approach environ-

mentally sustainable, but it also cre-

ates a layered architecture in continu-

ous dialogue, building upon the city’s

history and memories while respond-

ing to contemporary uses and evolving

aspirations,” she said.

The old market building in Shar-

jah was designed by British engineer-

ing consultancy Halcrow Group, who

played a vital role in developing the

region’s civic infrastructure. It is also

symbolic of Sharjah’s history as a trade

hub. Al Qassimiyah School, in turn,

acts as the triennial’s headquarters.

‘Rights of Future Generations’ has

been announced as the theme for the

first edition, and will be curated by

architect and scholar, Adrian Lahoud

who is currently Dean of the School

of Architecture at the Royal College

of Art.

The theme will look at how the ur-

ban and environmentally-led decisions

we make today are passed on from one

generation to the next, and how by ad-

dressing and reflecting on these deci-

sions, cities can, in turn, create “new

social realities”.

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