Montreal Reflections (1): On The Importance of Architecture

The word Mohandis – Arabic for Engineer – has a magical quality in the Middle East. Once you have acquired the title, you are somehow transformed into an all-knowing expert on all matters technical. Curiously, architecture in our region falls into this category as well. Harking back to the 19th century designing buildings has been closely linked to the engineering profession, emphasising the technical aspects of construction, hence the term Mohandis Memari, Arabic for Architectural Engineer.

Yet most of the world recognising the independence of architecture as a discipline incorporating, in addition to technical issues, aesthetic and humanistic concerns, have devoted specialised schools to the education of architects. An architect is a recognised title throughout the world, bestowing unique distinctions on its holder, similar to the Engineer.

These thoughts recently came into my mind while visiting Montreal a few weeks ago. Let me explain.

I was invited by the Canadian Centre of Architecture (CCA) to deliver a lecture as part of their “Learning from … “ series. The series aims at examining changes taking place in cities throughout the world. The title is taken from the 1972 book “Learning from Las Vegas.” In this particular iteration of the series, the focus was on the Middle East, namely Cairo, Dubai and Manama. Overall, my lecture was under the “Learning from Dubai” and it held the title“Little Space-Big Space: lessons from Dubai.”

The subject related to my work at the UAE University concerning the everyday use of urban spaces in the city and my efforts in mapping them through the newly formed “Urban Research Lab.” As I have discussed numerous times in previous columns, I aim at presenting another side of Dubai that emphasises its humanity and relevance. Similarly, the Manama lecture by Noura al-Sayeh focused on the informal spaces such as the tent, and how this was incorporated into an award-winning pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

What makes such a centre particularly attractive is of course the location of many universities and colleges nearby including McGill, Concordia, and LaSalle, all of which have dedicated architectural and design programs. Thus, the lecture hall was filled with people curious about urbanism in the Middle East, and urban developments in Dubai (the lecture is available online on the centre’s website, in addition to the discussions about Cairo and Bahrain).

Yet, beyond the specifics of these discussions, what was particularly fascinating about this whole event was the centre in which they were held. The CCA is in fact a large complex dedicated to the discipline of architecture – a museum and a research centre. It is more than 20 years old and is located in the centre of the city. The centre incorporates a historic structure – the Shaughnessy House mansion – which was purchased by the founders. The actual centre– built in 1989 by Peter Rose, a Montreal based architect – surrounds this 19th century building, and can also be accessed from the modern premises. Many activities take place there, including thematic exhibits, lecture series, and workshops. It houses a major bookstore, and there is also a concert hall. The centre is so important in the life of the city that guidebooks list it as a major sight to be visited, and there are street signs directing people to its locale.

There are other similar centres in the world - more than 70 actually according to the International Union of Architects (UIA). Not surprisingly, none of them is in the Arab world – although there are exceptions such as the Amman based ‘Amman Institute of Urban Development.’

This brings me back to the initial observation with which I started this column. The diminishing role of architects in this region is very troubling indeed. The exclusive association of architecture with art may have led to this ‘negative aura’ and therefore it needs to be linked to something supposedly more substantive such as engineering. In fact, in the UAE there is only one school dedicated to the study of architecture at the American University of Sharjah, catering mostly to expatriates. The rest – including the flagship federal institution of UAE University – are part of engineering programs.

This is to a large degree a cultural issue, with implications on the workplace. Many seek that title ‘Mohandis’ – and it is not simply a matter of vanity. Having such a title impacts salaries, compensations and promotions. Moreover there is no dedicated organisation for architects; instead there is a sub-chapter under the ‘Society of Engineers’.

It is telling that all major projects taking place in the region are allocated to foreign architects, whose alien values are sometimes in conflict with local cultures leading to buildings and urban settings that are not in line with local expectations. The absence of a local talent pool plays a role in this.

Thus, there needs to be a shift in attitude. Architecture concerns all of us. It permeates all aspects of our lives. It is not just engineering, or art or sociology. It is all of these things combined.

Perhaps, one day we will have the Abu Dhabi (or Dubai, or Sharjah) Centre for Architecture – which would be a guiding light for the remainder of the region. In the meantime, however, head to the cool climes of Montreal for a breath of architecture.

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