A panel of expert speakers comprising world-renowned architects from the UK, Colombia, Nigeria, France, Italy, Turkey, Tunisia, Lebanon and Greece will address the International Architects Conference.

The event will be held in Abu Dhabi from April 20 to 23, 2008.

The speakers will share their insights on a wide variety of topics including the concept of whole-life value of buildings, environmentally sustainable construction techniques, as well as other key issues confronting the Middle East building industry from an architectural stand-point, said an official spokesman.

The International Union of Architects (UIA) is working with Reed Exhibitions Middle East to host the International Architects Conference which is themed around “Fair Practices in the Building Sector”.

The conference is taking place in parallel with Reed’s Building Futures Gulf by BATIMAT industry event that is being held in Abu Dhabi, from April 20 to 23, 2008, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
 
The UIA was founded in 1948 to offer an international platform for architects of all countries as a federation of national organizations. The UIA now represents some 1.4 million architects in more than 100 countries.

“The UIA is very pleased to have our international conference in parallel with the Building Futures Gulf by BATIMAT event in Abu Dhabi. Although Abu Dhabi is home to one of the world’s biggest oil and gas reserves, it has chosen to be both respectful of its environment and to be innovative and thematic in developing its future,” said president of UIA Gaetan Siew.

“It has chosen to be a centre for cultural excellence internationally by having the Sorbonne University and the Louvre and Guggenheim museums,” he said, pointing out that Abu Dhabi is following a multi-disciplinary, sustainable approach in its development strategy.

“Abu Dhabi has chosen to be green innovatively” he added, “We wish to be part of this overall approach and contribute to the city’s development and are therefore proud to host this conference in Abu Dhabi.”

Among the leading speakers who will address the UIA conference is the celebrated French architect Odile Decq, owner of the world renowned architecture firm, Odile Decq Benoit Cornette Architects and Planners in Paris. Decq is the winner of numerous awards and recognitions including the “Legion d’Honneur” in 2003.

She has designed several iconic buildings including the L Museum in Austria that houses a private collection of contemporary art, and the Bordeaux Mérignac Airport’s control tower.
She will address a session entitled “The Whole life value concept for cost effective and sustainable buildings”. Professor German Suarez Betancourt from Colombia will also speak at this session.

Greek architect, Nikos Fintikakis, director of the UIA’s “ARES” (Architecture and Renewable Energy Sources) programme and deputy member of the UIA Council will address a session on Air Quality and Energy Savings along with French architect Jean-Marie Charpentier. Charpentier is a Member of the UIA Board, vice-president of the French Academy of Architecture and an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

The show, organised by Reed Exhibitions Middle East, marks the Middle East debut of the world-famous BATIMAT building show.

Also there is a dedicated services area for companies offering solutions to the building sector. Reed is partnering with the International Union of Architects (UIA) to host the show.

Over 200 exhibitors representing around 25 countries are expected to take part in the show. Exhibitors include leading industry names such as Siemens Building Technologies, Knauf, Saint Gobain Glass, AFICO - Owens Corning, KME, Technal, Emirates Iron & Steel, Unibeton, Tabreed, Siplast – AMC Protection, Dow Corning, Somfy, Kingspan, Corus, Giesse, Gulf Extrusions, Econosto, Akzo Nobel and Swegen. –