X-TALK #13 by KARIM ELGENDY
Architect, Sustainability Consultant,
and Founder of Carboun
THE STATE OF SUSTAINABILITY
IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Part of the iSustain Initiative Series
The lecture will discuss the state of sustainable design in the Middle East in the context of regional resource consumption and the global sustainability movement. Elgendy will explain the environmental, commercial, and political drivers for sustainability in the region and how the unique character of these drivers has led to the development of three distinct approaches to sustainable design, assessing the context, rationale, successes and failures of each approach. Focusing on passive design and using a number of recent case studies from around the region, the lecture will also discuss the current state of sustainable design in the region, its future urban and industry trends, and the challenges facing the mainstreaming of sustainability.
ABOUT KARIM ELGENDY
Karim Elgendy is an architect and sustainability consultant based in London, with experience practicing design and sustainability in the United Kingdom, the United States and the Middle East. Over the past fourteen years he has helped create sustainable buildings and urban environments across four continents, and has provided sustainability advice for design firms, management consultancies, international corporations, and mainstream media. Karim’s research interests include developing sustainable, resilient, and smart cities, and assessing the role of policy, urban planning, building design, and urban mobility in reducing the impact of cities on resources and the environment. His research work focuses on Middle East cities, addressing the regional challenges facing sustainable development and potential solutions. Karim is a public advocate for sustainability and a regular writer and commentator. He is the founder and coordinator of Carboun, an advocacy initiative promoting sustainability in cities in the region, and edits its online publication, the Carboun Journal. Karim is the recipient of the 2013 Global Green Building Entrepreneurship Award by the World Green Building Council.
iSUSTAIN INITIATIVE SERIES:
Addressing the sustainable design challenge, the A/E Business Council launched the iSustain Initiative, a platform that brings together students, professionals, and collegiate teams to compete in presenting the most innovative sustainable design solutions to the challenges facing Jordan’s built environment, with the ultimate goal of fostering innovation in the field of sustainable design.
Studio-X Amman is partnering with the A/E Business Council, introducing the iSustain Initiative Series, a program of lectures and intensive workshops addressing environmental challenges in Jordan and the region, conducting dialogues with and learning from experts from around the world. The program caters to engineering and architecture students, faculty, and practitioners, and aims to provide the exposure, and through intensive workshops, the preliminary tools to environmentally conscious design approaches.
