The Department of Architecture and Urban Planning (DAUP) at Qatar University College of Engineering (QU-CENG) yesterday inaugurated its Rooftop Permaculture Garden while launching an exhibition entitled, “The Swiss Touch in Landscape Architecture.”
Sponsored by Al Sulaiteen Industrial Complex and Nakheel Landscapes, the event is a collaboration between the department, the Swiss embassy in Qatar, and Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). It aims to engage participants on the pioneering knowledge on green roofs developed at ZHAW and implemented in international projects such as the London Olympic Games venues and the Basel Urban Rooftop farm; and to translate the experiences and lessons learned to develop similar elevated landscapes in Qatar and other Gulf cities and drylands.
Attending the opening were QU vice president Dr Mazen Hasna, Swiss Ambassador Martin Aeschbacher, CENG dean Dr Rashid al-Ammari, and DAUP head Dr Yasser Maghoub.
Dr al-Ammari said that the college’s partnership with the Swiss embassy in Qatar and Zurich University represents the commitment of QU to establish and advance collaboration with international institutions that will be of considerable benefit to partners, the institution, students and faculty, and the wider community.
Ambassador Aeschbacher said: “Both Qatar and Switzerland face new challenges and try to apply new technologies that suggest a more sustainable development. I am particularly proud that these lectures about landscape, sustainability, urban gardening and green roofs as well as the exhibition will take place at the College of Engineering.”
Some of the officials visiting the roof garden.
