The long-term concerns for the past, present and future of the Gulf region is what aligns the interests of two research centers at the universities of Harvard and Liverpool and the more global interests of the Urban Economy Forum with UN Habitat. The destructive ecological and sociocultural impacts on both land and sea – resulted in the Harvard Graduate School of Design's (GSD) agreement with Msheireb Properties (a subsidiary of the Qatar Foundation) in 2011 to undertake a three-phase research program entitled Gulf Sustainable Urbanism (GSU). The ArCHIAM research center at Liverpool University collaborated with the Qatar National Library (QNL) to recently complete in 2020 the Phase-1 of the ambitious Gulf Architecture Project (GAP), with the intention of creating the world's largest digital archive of Gulf architecture and urbanism. The Urban Economy Forum with UN Habitat, through its World Urban Pavilion (Pavilion), has the potential to share best practices, innovation and research in urban development from cities and countries globally. Therefore, it is most natural and auspicious that these three entities would join their academic and institutional experience and talents with those of the Gulf Region to research and convene the proposed session.

The Doha Vision 2050: Sustainable Urbanism for the Gulf is proposed as a stand-alone Case Study of 90- minute duration related to Track 5 Uniqueness and Connectivity to demonstrate how an international collaborative partnership can foster large-scale sustainable urban and national transformations in the Gulf region.

Programme 

Part 1: Introduction & Background to GSU: 12 min

Moderator: Wendy Purcell PhD FRSA, Emeritus Professor and University President (UK)

• Harvard GSU -The Past: "Gulf Sustainable Urbanism" Book Findings

Nader Ardalan MArch, President Ardalan Associates

• Liverpool University/AEB – "Gulf Architectural Project" Findings 

Soumyen Bandyopadhyay PhD, Sir James Stirling Chair in Architecture, Head, School of Architecture, University of Liverpool

• UEF/UN-Habitat: World Urban Pavilion Introduction

Reza Pourvaziry MArch, Urban Economy Forum Co-Chair

Anantha Krishnan MSc, Secretary General Urban Economy Forum

Part 2: Six Breakthrough Innovations- Doha Vision 2050: 40 min.

Moderator: Wendy Purcell PhD FRSA, Emeritus Professor and University President (UK)

1. Backtracking Scenarios, Nader Ardalan MArch, President Ardalan Associates 
2. Environmental Wellness, John Spengler PhD, Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation, Harvard University 
3. Circular Infrastructure, Spiro Pollalis PhD, Professor of Technology and Management, Harvard University 
4. Ecological Urbanism, Gareth Doherty PhD, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Harvard University 
5. Regenerative Form, Soumyen Bandyopadhyay PhD, Sir James Stirling Chair in Architecture, Head, School of Architecture, University of Liverpool 
6. Doha Pioneer City, Reza Pourvaziry MArch, Urban Economy Forum Co-Chair / Anantha Krishnan MSc, Secretary General Urban Economy Forum

Part 3: Panel Discussion: Commentary on Doha Vision 2050: 30 min.

Moderator: Wendy Purcell PhD FRSA, Emeritus Professor and University President (UK)

Panelists:

Issa Al Mohannadi BS, Chair of Qatar Green Building Council, Chairman QREC

Fodil Fadli PhD, Assistant Professor of Architecture & Urban Design, Qatar University

Ali Alraouf PhD, Qatar Urban Planning Department, Visiting Professor, HBK University, Doha, Qatar