AIA Middle East
Date: Wednesday, April 23rd
Time: 08:30 – 09:30 | Morning Coffee & Curated Networking
09:30 – 10:15 | Panel Discussion
Venue: Workington, M7 Building, Abdulla Bin Thani St, Msheireb, Doha - (Location Map)
Venue and Coffee Sponsor: Workinton M7
Registration HERE
Join a curated morning of networking and dialogue exploring how architecture rooted in cultural heritage, climate-responsive design, and regenerative innovation is shaping more resilient and inclusive futures in hot and arid environments. This AIA Middle East, content partner-led session brings together architects and urban designers reimagining sustainability through the fusion of tradition and technology.
Overview:
As a Content Partner-curated event at the Earthna Summit 2025, AIA Middle East will be hosting a morning event that brings together leading voices and professionals from the fields of architecture and urban design for a thought-provoking networking and dialogue session. Anchored in the Earthna Summit’s central theme of “Advancing Sustainability in Hot and Arid Environments by Drawing on Cultural Heritage and Natural Ecosystems,” this curated activation provides space for meaningful exchange and insight-sharing among practitioners, thought leaders, and innovators shaping the built environment in the region.
Target Audience:
• Architects & Urban Designers
• Planners & Sustainability Consultants
• Built Environment Policy Influencers
• Academics & Students in Architecture and Design
• Cultural Heritage and Regenerative Design Experts
Agenda:
08:30 – 09:30 | Morning Coffee & Curated Networking
An informal and purposefully curated networking session to foster dialogue among professionals in the architecture and urban design community. Facilitated introductions and themed networking prompts will be used to surface key challenges and solutions across sustainability, culture, and innovation in hot and arid regions.
09:30 – 10:15 | Panel Discussion
Theme: Sustainability in Architecture: Blending Tradition, Technology & Regenerative Design for a Resilient and Inclusive Future
This high-impact 45-minute panel will explore how architectural practice can bridge traditional wisdom and cutting-edge innovation to build more climate-resilient and socially inclusive communities.
Grounded in the cultural and ecological specificities of arid environments, the discussion will feature leading practitioners, researchers, and designers who are redefining sustainability by integrating traditional knowledge systems with modern regenerative practices and technological advancements.
Key Discussion Topics:
• Lessons from vernacular architecture in arid climates
• The role of cultural identity in sustainable urbanism
• Integrating passive design with modern technologies
• Regenerative materials and circular design in architecture
• Designing for social resilience and inclusivity
Panel Format:
• Moderator-led discussion (30 mins)
• Audience Q&A (15 mins)
Panelists:
o Dana Dib, Team Leader- Architecture, GHD
o Komal Kotwal, AIA, Founder and Principal Consultant, EquiSustain
o Bysshe Wallace, Principal Sustainability consultant, Cundall
o Moderator - Megha Arjun, AIA International
Objectives:
• Celebrate and explore architecture’s role in advancing climate resilience in hot and arid zones
• Promote the exchange of ideas across tradition and innovation in sustainable design
• Create connections between design professionals attending Earthna Summit
• Position the partner organization as a thought leader in sustainability-focused architecture
Registration HERE
