This document summarizes an engineering research workshop at Qatar University on "Livable Environment and Sustainability". The workshop will highlight current research projects in architecture and urban planning, discuss how architectural research benefits the community and industry, and identify priority research areas and topics for Qatar. The agenda includes invited speakers, panel discussions on how research impacts different groups, and a workshop to revise Qatar's priority research areas and generate new proposals. The document also outlines the university's research theme of "Sustainable and Livable Environments" and 10 specific research areas.

1. Qatar UniversityCollege of EngineeringResearch CommitteeEngineering Research Week From Sunday March 27, 2011 to Wednesday March 30, 2011Architecture and Urban Planning DepartmentArchitecture Research ForumTuesday March 29, 2011 “Livable Environment and Sustainability”

2. Research is “A systematic enquiry whose goal is communicable knowledge.” Bruce Archer 1995 Architectural Knowledge

3. Brief This workshop will investigate the current state of research relevant to the disciplines of Architecture and Urban Planning. “Livable Environment and Sustainability” is the core theme of the workshop, ranging from the level of the tectonic detail and interior environments to the urban design and planning.

4. Brief Current NPRP and UREP research projects at the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Engineering, Qatar University will be highlighted and case studies will be introduced. Benefits of architectural and urban research to the professional community and industry will be discussed.

5. Brief The workshop will introduce the established priorities and strategies relevant to Qatar and Doha as one of the important emerging regional metropolis.

6. Drives Qatar National Vision 2030 Qatar National Master Plan 2032 Qatar Sustainability Assessment Strategy Qatar National Research Fund

7. Possible Outcomes How can architectural research benefit to community, profession and the industry? Revision of Qatar Priority Architectural Research Areas and Topics. Partnership in Research. Possible generation of research proposals and grants.

8. Activities 9:00 -10:00 Invited Speakers 10:00 - 10:15 Refreshments 10:15 - 11:00 Discussion PanelHow can architectural research benefit to community, profession and the industry? 11:00 - 11:15 Coffee break 11:15 - 13:15 WorkshopQatar Priority Architectural Research Areas and Topics. 13:30 - 14:00 Lunch

9. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” The generic research theme that guides our research activities is “Sustainable and Liveable Environments.” This theme addresses sustainability as it relates to the built environment in its entire range - Physical, Economical and Socio-Cultural.

10. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” The goal is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this area by developing research findings based on both conceptual and empirical approaches. Investigating and delivering sustainable environments is the core of investigation in this theme.

11. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” Issues addressed involve the development of tools for analyzing, designing, assessing, and delivering sustainable environments at different scales that range from interior spaces and near environments, to exterior spaces, landscape architecture, and urban public spaces.

12. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” QU-AUP Department Wednesdays public seminars:

13. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” QU-AUP Department research areas: 1) Human-Environment Interaction, 2) Architecture/Urban Education, 3) Assessment, 4) Practice-Project Delivery, 5) Building/Urban Conservation, 6) Energy Efficiency and Building Design, 7) Technology, 8) Form and Typological Studies 9) Metropolitan Urban Policy, and 10) Urban Upgrading Policies and Community Development

14. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” 1) Human-Environment Interaction: This area involves the development and implementation of tools that aim at sensitizing building users in understanding sustainability. The aim is to conceive bottom up collaborative strategies for involving users in assessing their existing environments or participating in designing new environments, i.e. school buildings, workplaces, small scale housing projects are targeted building types.

15. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” 2) Education: This area includes the development of research as it relates to the ways in which sustainability is addressed in architectural/built environment education. It involves surveys of architecture schools, observation studies, content analysis etc. It also explores the study and analysis of new research and taught programs within the region and worldwide that have strong sustainable design/construction components.

16. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” 3) Assessment: This area encompasses evaluation of buildings that have received recognition/merits/awards for materializing sustainable design and construction aspects into responsive built environments. The purpose is to analyse and diagnose best practices, impact of one sustainable design aspect over others, and shortcomings or deficiencies.

17. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” 4) Practice/Project Delivery: This area aims at developing a comprehensive understanding into how sustainable buildings/environments are delivered. It investigates the way in which sustainability imperatives and guidance documents influence professional design and construction practices.

18. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” 5) Building and Urban Conservation: This area involves investigating how old/historic buildings or urban environments are re-qualified / or adapted for new uses and functions. It explores recent practices in remodelling, upgrading, renovation, and reusing old/historical buildings. Whether or not these practices respect the old design/structure, the immediate urban fabric, environmental aspects and their impact on socio-cultural sustainability are crucial questions underlying this area.

19. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” 6) Energy Efficiency and Building Design: Energy used in buildings in the Gulf region and Qatar is no exception counts for up to 60%. This includes air conditioning, ventilation, and lighting. Most of the decisions on building design are made at the early stages of the design process. This area of research aims at exploring ways of reducing energy consumption of residential environments through the effective use of passive strategies.

20. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” 7) Technology: This area investigates new technologies and building systems and how they are integrated into sustainable buildings. It includes studies of lighting, material, waste, energy conservation strategies, and computer technologies. The impact of these aspects on the environment and building occupants would be a base for exploring these aspects.

21. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” 8) Form and Typological Studies: This area covers the investigation of formal configuration of buildings as they relate to the urban context. It addresses fundamental architectural questions related to the notion of types and patterns, the figurative and formal aspects of buildings, and typological processes. Topics in this area include surveys, documentation, and typological studies of historical architecture and contemporary urbanism.

22. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” 9) Metropolitan Urban Policy: This area covers issues that pertain to deindustrialization, economic globalization and multiculturalism in modern society. Research in this area covers explorations and development of resilient and sustainable urban policies and the underlying topics of eco zones and districts and civic ecologies.

23. Architecture and Urban Planning Research Theme“Sustainable and Livable Environments” 10) Urban Upgrading Policies and Community Development: This area aims at investigating issues to improve living standards of urban communities and reduce social and economic inequalities. Research in this area aims at better understanding of the systematic impacts of urban policies on the design of new projects that target better service delivery to the urban dwellers.

24. Academia Knowledge Education Research Community Service Industry Profession Practice Environment Construction Livable Environment and Sustainability

25. Activities 9:00 to 10:00 Invited Speakers 10:00 - 10:15 Refreshments/Coffee Break 10:15 - 11:00 Discussion PanelHow can architectural research benefit to community, profession and the industry? 11:00 - 11:15 Refreshments/Coffee Break 11:15 - 13:00 WorkshopQatar Priority Architectural Research Areas and Topics. 13:00 - 14:00 Lunch

26. 9:00 to 10:00Invited Speakers

27. 10:00 - 10:15 Refreshments/Coffee Break

28. 10:15 - 11:00Discussion Panel How can architectural research benefit to community, profession and the industry in Doha and Qatar?

29. 11:00 - 11:15 Refreshments/Coffee Break

30. 11:15 - 13:00 Workshop Qatar Priority Architectural Research: Areas and Topics.

32. 13:00 - 14:00Lunch