The First International Conference of the Center for the Study of Architecture in the Arab Region (CSAAR)

Organized by:

The Center for the Study of Architecture in the Arab Region

In Collaboration with

National School of Architecture, Rabat, Morocco

Sponsored by:

Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Keynote Speakers

Prof. Gerhard Schmitt, Vice President Planning and Logistics, Professor for Information Architecture, ETH Zürich

Prof. Thomas Regan, Dean of the College of Architecture, Texas A&M University
 

Introduction

Since its inception in the nineteenth century, the design studio has remained at the core of architectural design education. In spite of tremendous changes in epistemology, academe and architectural practice, the traditional studio-based pedagogy has not changed substantially.

Traditional architectural design education has been based on the historical models of the Beaux-Arts and the Bauhaus. The architectural design studio has remained fairly stable for more than a century. Although traditional design studio has come under considerable criticism, changes in studio culture during this period have been very limited, and thus have gone largely unnoticed by the professional community.

During the last three decades or so there has been a substantial shift in architectural design education. These changes have manifested in an increased criticism of the traditional design education; attempts to reconsider/rethink the basic assumptions, theories and practices of traditional design education; and calls for major changes in studio culture. The drivers of this change include epistemological, social, and economical forces among which are new knowledge and technological developments; increased use of computers and information technology in design education and practice; pressure on institutions of higher education to reduce space use; and changing student demographics. The intensive application of computers and information technology in architectural design education, for instance, has brought fundamental changes to design studio practices. The introduction of the paperless studio, the e-studio, and the virtual design studio has resulted in a major shift in perspective, and a reorientation in theoretical and conceptual assumptions considered to be central to the prevailing paradigm, thus putting strain on its adequacy.

The theme of the conference is "Changing Trends in Architectural Design Education." This captures the role of the conference as a forum to examine and debate various transformations occurring in architectural design education, and to reconsider our traditional understanding of design studio and design education in general. The conference aims to provide the participants an occasion to share and exchange experiences and research findings, and to stimulate more ideas and useful insights regarding contemporary design education. Although one of the aims of the conference is to promote learning from regional experiences and to build partnerships among interested scholars and institutions around and across the Mediterranean, the conference welcomes papers from scholars beyond the region.

Topics of Interest

We invite participants to submit papers in all areas related to design education, and particularly work addressing paradigm shifts in design education. Papers may reflect on a wide spectrum of design disciplines such as architectural, landscape, interior, and urban design. The conference is structured around a number of themes that include:

Each theme is conceived in terms of a number of topics which include -but are not limited to:

Design Studio Pedagogy

Digital Technology in Architectural Design Education

Curriculum Development

Key Dates

Abstract Submission

Abstract submission must be in English with about 1000 words. Full paper submission could be either in English or Arabic. Abstract and full paper submissions should be sent in MS Word or PDF document format. Abstracts should be e-mailed to conference Chair().
Full paper submissions are required to be done online at the conference Website.  

Full Paper Submission

• For full paper format and submission guidelines, click here.

• On-line  paper submersion system is now working.  to submit your full paper for blind review click here. .   

Conference Fees and Registration 

The CSAAR 2006 registration is now open.  Authors are invited to complete the registration process before August 15th, 2006. Deadline for sending registration fees is October 15th. Failing to send the registration fees on or before this date will result in excluding the paper from the proceedings. Click here for online registration.   

Conference Proceeding

All papers presented at the conference will be published in the conference proceedings, which will be available to delegates at the time of registration.  

Location & Accommodation

Conference Program

Click here to download the Conference Program (pdf).