Joaquin Perez-Goicoechea, partner and co-founder of AGi architects, gave a lecture yesterday at Instituto Cervantes in Tangier, titled “Two-way lessons”. The event is part of the program of the contemporary architecture and design exhibition “On Tour. Spanish architecture in the Arab world”, opened yesterday and that will be in this city until September 24, closing its journey though Morocco. AGi architects’ project for the General Department of Information System (GDIS), in Kuwait, is one of the works showcased in this exhibition. The topic chosen by AGi architects has served to share with the audience the experience of Spanish architecture design firms in Arab countries, like the firm led by Joaquin Perez-Goicoechea and Nasser Abulhasan, as well as everything they have learned from the Arab countries since its beginnings in 2006.
Combining tradition and modernity + cultural respect on contemporary architecture and design
One of the main objectives of AGi architects’ work focuses on combining tradition and modernity, respecting the culture of Kuwait, reinterpreting and adapting it to the current moment and needs, from the point of view of an international state-of-the-art and leading design. AGi architects’ idea is not to impose a new way of living completely detached from the Kuwaiti society, is rather a transformation and reinterpretation of this way of living and current types of buildings that are being translated into vertical development.
AGi architects’ commitment to more sustainable urban development
Similarly, AGi architects actively participate in several workshops on the implications and relationships between city and society, along with those stakeholders involved in the urban design of Kuwait. During the working sessions, the main features and shortcomings of the currently prevailing urban development model in western countries and in Kuwait are reviewed. Participants discuss about the failures of this model which breaks with the traditional city, and raises the need for introducing urban planning and design approaches which provide a choice to the current model. In addition, the matter of how to tap on the local context to design more sustainable projects and cities is also discussed. After analyzing the local context of Kuwait in depth, a need to understand the synergies between city actors, systems and local conditions grows. The ultimate goal of this public participation process is to achieve better quality buildings rooted on the local context, as well as a sustainable development that involves a long-term benefit to society as a whole. Some examples of contemporary architecture and design works by AGi architects shared in Tangier show what it is said above. Such is the case of GDIS, Wafra Living, Secret House and New Sulaibikhat Center amongst other projects. For further information:
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