The talk will offer a glimpse into the work and methodologies of design practices working in cities like Tehran, Jeddah, Lahore, Muscat, and Riyadh - contexts where architecture is often shaped by constraint, resilience, and fast urbanism.
The speakers will share unconventional methods: architectural grafting, adaptive reuse, informal urbanism, and placemaking rooted in lived experience.
With:
Raza Ali Dada, one of Pakistan’s most well regarded architects and educators in the field. He is currently a managing partner at Nayyar Ali Dada & Associates. The firm has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Raza has 10 years of extensive experience with various building typologies in New York, USA. A supporter of eco-conscious practices, he has actively worked on sustainable projects and raising awareness regarding local heritage and environment. He is a visiting professor at the Beaconhouse National University and is on the board of the Lahore Conservation Society. Raza’s artistic interests have led him to work on custom objects such as furniture and lighting. His key interest is to explore how these design investigations impact and affect our relationship with our physical surroundings.
Altqadum, a design studio and collective founded in 2017, is led by Marwan AlBalushi, Najd AlBalushi, and Abdulrahim Alkendi. The studio is based in Muscat, Oman, and is known for its research-driven approach that honors Omani culture while addressing contemporary design needs. Altqadum's projects include the Bab Al Salam Mosque, which has been recognized as one of Time magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2024, and the interactive installation ‘DumTukTuk’ at Oman Design Week. The studio's work spans architecture, interiors, and furniture design, and they are currently working on various projects across the UAE, including a mosque in Sharjah.
Fereshteh Assadzadeh an architect, researcher, and writer based in Tehran, and a collaborator with ZAV Architects, where she works across design, research, writing, and international programs. Her work with ZAV includes the Majara Complex and Community Redevelopment, which was awarded the Aga Khan Award in the 2023–2025 cycle. Alongside her practice with ZAV, Fereshteh co-founded Conj-Cav, a research and narrative direction studio that partners with architects and organizations to develop study-based design processes and narrative approaches. She is actively involved in architectural pedagogy, teaching as design instructor at Studio Nakameli alongside director Mohamadreza Ghodousi at the Contemporary Architects Association in Tehran.
Bricklab, a studio for architecture, design and experimental research based in Jeddah. It navigates the interplay between material research, practical design, and the built environment. Their portfolio—from cultural architecture to urban design and consulting, public space interventions, to scenography and installations—reflects a thoughtful response to the changing contexts of each project. The studio was formed in 2015 by Abdulrahman and Turki Gazzaz. Over the years, their team has expanded to include architects and designers from different backgrounds and interests.
Moez Chatmen, a Senior Architect and Associate Design Director, leading MATERIA’s Development Management Department, currently based in Riyadh. With extended international experience across Europe and the Middle East, he aligns design vision, strategy and execution for complex institutional and urban projects that link real estate with cultural, social and heritage-led development. Recently led multidisciplinary landmark projects with renowned architectural practices, including the Oasis Agricultural Campus with Francis Kéré and the Kingdoms Institute with David Chipperfield for the Royal Commission for AlUla, as well as key regeneration strategies in Doha and Al Khor with Qatar Museums.