The Interior Design Department at the American University in Dubai (AUD), in collaboration with Architects Claudia Pasquero and Marco Poletto unit masters at the Architectural Association in London and directors of the ecologic Studio in London, recently organized a five-day workshop for its students on EcoMachines entitled, “Ecological Fun Park.”
Students from the Interior Design Department participated in an exciting experience in which they applied parametric design techniques and ecological strategies to design a FUN PARK. The project is conceived as a new prototype of a public space for the green future of DUBAI; which intends to re-define the integration between sustainable infrastructural system and public spaces/ecoMachinic attractions. ‘ecoMachine’ are prototypes for the amplification of local microclimate i.e., an attraction powered by microclimatic, differentials in temperature, humidity, noise level, pollution, light, solar radiation, and wind.
Dr. Abeer M H Shaheen, Assistant Professor of Interior Design at AUD and ecoMachine workshop’s organizer and co-tutor, comments:
The event is one of a series of workshops on the subject, over a period of approximately three years, which will lead to the development of new design skills for the students, international academic collaboration for the American University in Dubai with a leading school in Design and Architecture, such as the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, and, in the same time, develop outreach and research on the subject of ecological design.
Students participated in group activities in which they teamed up to develop a specific ecoMachine prototype through the mapping of environmental processes and the application of dynamic process technique, via a process of diagrammatic abstraction, which leads to the formation of digital modeling and physical modeling through rapid prototyping techniques. They also visited Dubai Land Head Quarters as part of their project’s site visit.
The American University in Dubai is a private, non-sectarian institution of higher learning founded in 1995; it serves UAE nationals and international students who seek world-class career-oriented education. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
AUD is officially licensed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates. The Ministry has accredited the university’s programs in Business Administration (both undergraduate and graduate), Communication and Information Studies, Engineering, Information Technology, Interior Design and Visual Communication.
The Bachelor of Science programs in Civil, Electrical, and Computer Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
AUD holds an Agent's License issued by the District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission (Washington, DC, USA). AUD is approved to operate by the State of Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC). www.aud.edu.
