August 2010
Manosh Dé, from Halcrow’s planning and environment team in Dubai, was recently invited as a guest speaker at Kyushu University and UN-Habitat's third Career Path Forum 2010.
The event is part of an ongoing series of initiatives organised to inform and share ideas with the local architectural and planning fraternity on different aspects of sustainable development in modern cities. Previous speakers have included principals from Arup, EDAW and Singapore University.
This year’s topic was: “New design wave in architecture and urbanism – view of the future development and its strategy in the booming city of Dubai”.
Manosh presented his paper entitled: “Dubai: a planning and urban design context” which looked at Dubai’s growth over the years.
The paper traced the early formation of Dubai, and how its rulers took advantage of its geographical features by putting in place trendsetting economic objectives that continue to evolve even today. By highlighting Halcrow’s involvement in many of these developments, Manosh drew attention to the significance of the company’s commitment to the emirate.
Some of the key projects Manosh discussed included Dubai Creek dredging, the John Harris Dubai master plan, the development of Internet City and Dubailand, and other recent work for the Government of Dubai.
An article using his paper as inspiration will appear in the next issue of the Japanese Architecture and Urbanism magazine.
Manosh commented: “This event was unique, in that it brought a wealth of information to a group previously not fully aware of Dubai and Halcrow’s unique working relationship with the evolution of cities. It was also a good opportunity to share new ideas of fostering sustainability in the region within the harsh reality of a changing ecological and economical climate.”