ISLAMABAD: The Embassy of France in Pakistan organised the first edition of the Forum on Sustainable Architecture and Cities in collaboration with the Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP) and Comsats University.

An exhibition with the theme of Sustainable Architecture, organised by the Pavillon de l’Arsenal a centre for urban planning and museum in Paris, was also held.

The event aimed to raise awareness among target stakeholders and to address their concerns and suggestions regarding climate change in the context of the upcoming Paris Conference on Climate Change (COP21) in 2015.

France will hold the COP21 to showcase European initiatives taken at the community, private and public levels in response to climate change which according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is having a significant impact all over the planet.

The phenomenon manifests itself in increased temperatures, extremes in rainfall, melting of glaciers and polar ice caps, heating of the seas and oceans and increase in water levels.

In Pakistan, repeated floods are attributable in part to changes in global climatic patterns.

The exhibition was titled ‘Architecture Sustainable’ and aimed at displaying the evolution of the architecture in Paris over the centuries and catering to the ever-changing weather, demographics, social conditions and taking into account the latest advances in building technology.

Among the 30 illustrations on display were those showing the construction of multi-storey structures replacing old, dilapidated buildings, skeletons of buildings and rehabilitation of old buildings with the addition of public gardens.

The Forum on Sustainable Architecture and Cities was open to students and guests and began with a address of welcome by Professor Architect Zainul Abedin, Dean of Faculty of Architecture and Design, CIIT Islamabad and Mrs Martine Herlem-Hamidi, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs, Embassy of France.

Ambassador Shahid Kamal, Director of Centre for Climate Research and Development at the CIIT also spoke briefly on the planned discussions.

Jahangir Khan Sherpao, President of IAP, set the context of the forum by emphasizing the role that architects and engineers can play in promoting sustainable living. He said, “We live as if we have a planet in reserve.”

The first session of the forum was on ‘Sustainable Architecture and Planning’ and was moderated by Asim Hamid.

The speakers included Laurent Marc Fischer, Pascal Gontier, Shama Usman, Javed Ali Khan and Wakar Aziz.

Speakers at the forum explained that sustainable architecture is architecture that seeks to minimise the negative environmental impact of buildings by ensuring efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space. Speakers emphasised the role of architects and builders in incorporating green building practices to create environmentally sound and resource-efficient buildings.

The second session titled ‘Towards Urban Ecologies,’ was moderated by Faisal Arshad. The speakers were Denis Cassat, Christian Dautel, Vakar Ahmed, Eng. Maudood Naeem Khan, Ahmad Zaka and Johanna Choumert.

The session highlighted the need to reframe the study of cities to create a broad understanding of the complex economic, political, social, environmental and physical forces that influence urban growth and development. Speakers said that sustainability is only truly possible when the approach is multidisciplinary and environmental friendliness is a key objective.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2014