Watch: Sharjah architecture exhibition features unique structures made of bamboo and waste material – News

Structures made from repurposed telephone poles, bamboo shoots and raw building materials are part of an architecture exhibition that began in Sharjah on Friday. The second edition of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial champions creativity, innovation and the inventive use of design solutions, with installations in four locations in the emirate.

Free to enter and open to the public, the exhibition will also host workshops for children. “This exhibition will teach visitors a lot about their surroundings,” said Sheikha Hoor Bint Sultan Al Qassimi, president and director of Sharjah Art Foundation, speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the event. “It will also teach them how to live in a sustainable way and in peace with nature.”

Curated by Lagos-based architect Tosin Oshinowo, the triennial will feature 30 architects, designers and studios from 26 countries and will be exhibited across the emirate until March 10, 2024.

From large-scale installations and exhibitions to critical conversations and broader public programming, the Triennial will examine how cultures of reuse, re-appropriation, collaboration and adaptation can help achieve a more sustainable, resilient and equitable future.

Minimize waste

The seats and tables inside the Al Qasimiyah School, one of the exhibition venues, were made from bricks, sheets and other construction materials from the industrial area of ​​Sharjah. According to the curator, exhibitors were instructed to minimize waste by sourcing materials locally and creating displays that are reusable.

“We purchase the materials from merchants in the industrial zone to use in our facilities,” said Tosin Oshinowo in his opening speech. “Once we are done using the materials, we will sell them back to you at a fraction of the cost. In this way we hope to minimize the waste generated by our exhibition.”

The Triennial was first established in 2018 to provide a platform for architecture and urbanism. The projects will be displayed throughout the city and its surrounding areas, from central locations such as the old Al Jubail vegetable market to the surrounding desert.

Sheikha Hoor revealed that local companies had approached several exhibitors to request their creations. “We can’t name names, but many of the people who have come here are being contacted by local businesses to put her creations into practice here,” she said. “This shows that the triennial is having a positive and practical impact on the city.”

Paying tribute

At the opening of the event, Sheikha Hoor paid tribute to her late twin brother. “He was a fashion designer but he also studied architecture,” she said. “He was in charge of urban planning in Sharjah. It was important to him to look at architecture and design and how they could affect the construction of our city. Since I went to art school and had so much experience organizing biennials, it made a lot of sense for us to do this project together.”

However, just a few months before the event, his brother died. “He didn’t see the progress that was happening,” he said. “It’s difficult, but I try to focus on my role and my responsibilities to continue doing the job he would have wanted to do.”

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