The chief curator of the UAE's National Pavillion for the 17th Architecture Bienalle di Venezia (2020 and 2021) – and recipient of the Golden Lion Award – architect Wael Al Awar joins us on the afikra podcast for fascinating conversation about the problem with modern and globalized architecture, and building with the future in mind. Waiwai's founding partner and principle architect takes a deep dive into cement as a material and discusses the disconnect between standardized architecture and cultural and geographical contexts. Wael also explains why architecture as a profession has become intertwined with ego, and answers whether we're truly stuck with skyscrapers.

0:00 Introduction
00:59 Personal Relationship to Architecture
3:08 Building a Pavilion at the Venice Biennale
6:08 Why Buildings Across the World Look The Same
8:24 “Future Vernacular”
15:39 Wetland: 2021 Venice Biennale UAE Pavilion & Cement
28:32 Policy Makers & Sustainable Architecture
35:33 Most Familiar Cities & Different Approaches to “Sustainability”
41:00 Are High-Rises Here To Stay?
52:00 Climate Solutions through Architecture
55:27 Current Projects & Book Recommendations

Wael Al Awar is an architect and founder of waiwai alongside Kazuma Yamao — an architectural, landscape, urban, interior and graphic design studio with offices in Dubai and Tokyo. Waiwai takes a highly contextual approach to address social, environmental and technological questions through design. Wael was the chief Curator of the National Pavilion of the UAE for the Bienalle di Venezia 2020 and 2021, and recipient of the Golden Lion Award.

Connect with Wael 👉   / wael.al.awar  

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

Hosted by:
Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?h...

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series:    • 🎙️ The afikra Podcast | بودكاست عفكرة  

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