IAARA::Human Habitation:International Conference & Exhibition on the Architecture Settlement & Urban Identity of the Persian Gulf Region took place in London to mark World Habitat Day with an impressive lineup of speakers and artwork from around the world.

The Human Habitation Conference opened with a message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, read on his behalf by Ms. Wandia Seaforth, Acting Chief of the UN-Habitat best practices and policies section.
Afterwards, a message from the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, was read by Ms. Diana Coramazana, head of the UN-Habitat Office for City-to-City from Barcelona.
An introductary speech followed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Westminster with additional statements from Murray Fraser, Academic Advisor to Human Habitation, and Nasser Golzari, General Sencretary of the Human Habitation conference.

With the Jarvis Hall packed, the conference began on October 5, 2009 with the keynote speakers found below. The two-day conference ended with a closing ceremony by Jeremy Till, Dean of the School of Architecture and the Built Environment of the University of Westminster and Nicholas You, Special Advisor to the Executive Director of UN-Habitat.

The Human Habitation event organized by IAARA, University of Westminster, Iran Municipalities & Rural Management Organization and International Karashar Parisan Inc also included a week long exhibition on the side of the conference from October 5-11, 2009. Remarkable images and artifacts from the Persian Gulf region were put on display which opened to great reviews.

After the opening of the Exhibition, middle-eastern food was served and a UN-Habitat emblem was bestowed to Katherine Heron, curator of the University of Westminster Exhibition, Nasser Golzari, General Secretary of the Human Habitation Conference and Alireza Bagheri, CEO of International Karashar Parsian Inc.

Conference Keynote Speakers (Alphabetical Order):

Nader Ardalan
Fellow, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University. President of Ardalan Associates.
Over four decades of award winning international experience as part of Ardalan Associates. Formerly Senior Vice President of KEO International Consultants and Director of Design.

Diana Coramazana
Manager of the UN-HABITAT Office for City-to-City from Barcelona

Paul Finch
Programme Director of World Architecture Festival, CABE Chair Elect. Paul Finch is an outspoken and passionate critique on issues of globalisation and the reflection it has on cultural identity and architecture.

Murray Fraser
Coordinator for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Department of Architecture, University of Westminster. Award winning author of Architecture and the ‘Special Relationship’. Co-editor of The Journal of Architecture.

Nasser Golzari
General Secretary for the conference as well as senior partner at NG-Architects where he has produced a number of acclaimed projects in the UK and internationally in Europe and Iran. He is a Senior Lecturer, and MA design module leader at University of Westminster as well as Architecture Pathway Leader at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.

Susannah Hagan
Professor of Architecture at the University of Brighton, Director of R/E/D (Research into Environment+Design). Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and of the Forum for Urban Design, New York Susannah Hagan’s research centres on environmentally-led urban design, and the social and economic benefits it can bring to cities.

Nabil Hamdi
Professor Emeritus, Oxford Brookes University and Teaching Fellow, Development Planning Unit UCL. Nabil Hamdi is author of Small Changes and Housing without Houses, as well as receiving numerous prestigious awards for his housing projects for Greater London.

Tanis Hinchcliffe
Reader in History and Theory, MA London Architecture joint course leader at the University of Westminster. Publications include Discovering London’s Buildings with John Bold. Tanis Hinchcliffe has extensive experience specifically amongst the English and French history of the past 250 years, and is actively engaged in issues of post and pre colonialism.

Ibrahim Al Jaidah
Managing director of Arab Engineering Bureau and nominated several times for the prestigious Aga Khan awards, as well as winner for a number of distinguished national awards within the Gulf regions, Ibrahim Al Jaidah is dedicated to enhancing the architecture of modern Qatar.

Tony Lloyd Jones
Principal Lecturer in Urban Design, Planning and Sustainable Development at the School of Architecture and the Built Environment, University of Westminster. Tony Lloyd Jones has conducted research and consultancy projects in sustainable urban development policy and practice as well as having delivered and published papers and articles worldwide.

George Katrodrytis - Associate Professor of Architecture at the American University of Sharjah, UAE and founder of StudioNova Architects. The practice is involved in contemporary architecture, urbanism and cultural theory. Experimentation and writings on contemporary design methods as well as advanced use of digital media are adopted for the design of small and large projects.

Tim Makower
Partner of Allies and Morrison of London, UK. The majority of Tim Makower’s work relates to large-scale urban projects, a number of which are in the Middle East. In particular, he leads the work of the practice in Doha. His work ranges from architectural works such as the Diwan Amiri Quarter, Doha and Bankside 123, to urban planning projects such as the master plan for King’s Cross Central, London.

Souheil El Masri
Director of Architectural Design, Gulf House Engineering, Bahrain. Souheil El Masri has published widely on Post-war Reconstruction and has presented papers on Architecture & Globalization and Sustainable Development. He has successfully managed a wide range of projects including housing, recreational, conservation and large scale urban developments

Reza Pourvaziry
President of the International Art & Architecture Research Association and General Secretary of the 1st World Olympiad for Urban Design under UN-Habitat.

Wandia Seaforth - Acting Chief of the UN-Habitat Best Practices and Policies Section. Member of Global Urban Development’s Board of Directors.

Peter Sharratt - Director of Sustainability & Climate Change of WSP Group Environment and Energy Group. Peter is an internationally recognised figure and thought leader in the industry for Climate Change and Sustainability consultancy services.

Nicholas You - Special Advisor for Strategic Planning to the Executive Director of UN-Habitat. Member of Global Urban Development’s Board of Directors.