She brought a piece of her country's nature to Dubai with the design of the Australian Pavilion

The talented engineer sees “Expo” .. through the lenses of a million visitors

• The Australian Pavilion is based on the idea of ​​merging architecture and landscape architecture.

  Photography: Osama Abu Ghanem

picture

With a piece of the nature of her country, the architect Kelly Gildard covers the Australian pavilion in the mobility area of ​​​​"Expo 2020 Dubai", as she was keen to reflect many of the features of her country, from its terrain and land to its clouds and climatic fluctuations, to see the design that she created through the lenses of a million visitors through the means of Social Media.

Kelly is one of the talented female architects behind the design of some of the most stunning country pavilions around the Expo 2020 site. The "Expo", through dialogues "Meet an Architect", sheds light on their ideas about the future of architecture from a women's perspective, and their career path and work to design these impressive buildings. On how female architects are changing the way our cities are built, especially when the majority of cities around the world are designed only for men, architect Kelly Gildard, director of Bioproperties, said: “Cities built by women (of women for women) are designed to meet the needs of everyone.They are suitable for parents, people of determination, children with mobility impairments, children and the elderly, and they are safe cities, where everyone can move around them at all times of the day and night.” and cooperation between many organizations and stakeholders. It is also about changing perceptions about what matters and how to implement them.

“I believe that with more women in office, as well as raising awareness of gender issues and their intersections, and with more women working in the field of design, there will be significant progress in this field in the next decade, and we architects must champion those principles.” We deliver our voices to everyone.

future buildings

On the impact of the repercussions of the “Covid-19” pandemic on the way of designing and constructing future buildings, the Australian engineer saw that “the virus forced everyone to take into account the importance of wellness and the availability of flexible capabilities in the built environment, as our homes have become our workplace and study, especially in cities where procedures have been applied. Complete closure, so equal access to open space has become critical to our mental health and wellness.

That is why we are taking into account new concerns and considerations among the challenges that we face when implementing any new design now.”

And she indicated that “the issues raised by (Covid-19) are consistent with the things that we must think about to solve the problem of climate change, including reducing our travel trips, promoting self-sufficiency, and increasing our awareness of our actions and their impact on others, and we do not, of course, overlook several things that are directly related to design, such as the industry Touchless doors and taps.

inspirations

As for her career in architecture, and her sources of inspiration, Kelly Gildard said: “I didn't realize I wanted to be an architect until the end of high school. And his family traveled a lot and lived in a house that was astonishing and distinct from any I had seen; What sparked my interest in architecture, and because I loved studying art and mathematics, I liked architecture's combination of creativity and logic. So I went to the School of Architecture and got my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Queensland and went on to do so.”

I have spent more than 20 years working in architecture and my passion is still as strong.

I have always been inspired by the work we have done in the company and the work of outstanding engineers both locally and internationally, and I look forward to traveling as a way to enhance my knowledge of the profession and deepen my understanding of new cultures and different forms of expression in architecture.”

She added about the design of her country's pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, "The most important thing that occupied our minds is studying the idea of ​​merging architecture and landscape architecture, and seeking to implement the idea, as we wanted to bring a piece of the landscape from Australia to Dubai, and the pavilion provides a canopy for welcoming and gathering, as it represents The surface of the pavilion, which is designed in the form of land and clouds, is a striking depiction of Australia, with its vast open areas and scenic landscapes under a sky filled with cumulus clouds.

remote visit

Although the closures caused by the pandemic prevented Kelly Gildard from actually visiting the suite she designed, social media allowed her to participate through the lenses of a million visitors, as she put it.

Regarding what she hopes to achieve through her design in this huge international event, she said, “What is distinctive about the Australia Pavilion is the contribution of contemporary architecture to establishing a dialogue about Australia, as it is characterized by the presence of a distinct crossing between the built and natural environment, and it is often indistinguishable between the two styles;

It is a state unique to our country, which calls for celebration.

We hope that during their experience inside the Australia Pavilion, visitors will gain a more accurate perception of the intertwined and captivating nature of Australia.”

Kelly Gildard:

• “The highlight of our pavilion is the contribution of contemporary architecture to a conversation about Australia.”

• “I have spent more than 20 years working in the field of architecture, and my passion is still as strong.”

Development Week

The Urban and Rural Development Week at Expo 2020 Dubai, which concluded yesterday, discussed possible ways to live in balance with our planet, and included events that illustrate how gender plays a role.

Fantastic combination

Architect Kelly Gildard considered the Singapore Pavilion designed by "Woha" company, one of the most prominent pavilions participating in "Expo 2020 Dubai", as it combines landscape and architecture in a strong way based on a future vision.