JURY

I am pretty clear what architecture means to me, and after 50 years of being in this profession on three continents, I will not change my mind. There are great architects out there, and I just hope they see clearly the development of our profession. It is not about YOU anymore, it is about the survival of our planet. Please take this seriously!

Architecture is an emotional experience.

When artificial intelligence is used to build superstructures, then the human input can only be done by designers with great imagination and vision. High-Tech is terrific if it is applied to social benefit. We forget so quickly that everything we make, including artificial intelligence, comes from the raw materials of this planet.

I can see that people are fascinated by monstrous shiny skyscrapers, but the reality is, that this is nothing more than modern human anthills. Who wants to live there with thousands of others?

We should integrate the beauty of Nature harmoniously into our architecture. The grand design of Nature (mountains, valleys, meadows, lakes, streams, oceans shores) gives us enough inspiration to follow the idea to compliment Nature, instead of destroying it.

My special architectural focus would be on the residential projects, I can say that I run an Architectural Consultancy "Riaz Associates" in Pakistan for 30 years (1984 -2014), in the city of Lahore, one of the most populated city of the country and the capital of the biggest province 'Punjab'.

  My interest was on individual housing and the housing schemes projects. My focus was on to design custom homes for the particular clients according to their family requirements, budget with the environment of the location. My primary interest was on a practical, well lighted and a space full of comfort. I attended many juries in different universities in Pakistan.

  With my experience and interest in reading magazines, I started publishing an architectural and art magazine (quarterly) "Designers Style" in 2011 as publisher and editor in chief and it is running till today. It is one of the top 3 publications in the country and I am honoured that it has articles from around the world and is sent to many places outside the country. Because of my dual nationality I travelled a lot to many places especially Canada and I moved to Toronto in 2014. I am managing my magazine team from here and to learn more I got admission in Ryerson University, Chang School of Continuing Education in the subject of publishing in 2017. You can visit online at facebook.com/designerstyle.magazine

   I moved to Calgary now in Nov.2019, to explore life and style of west of Canada and US.

Research-in-practice and education. • Focus in the relationship of technology to architectural value and spirituality. • Modern technological thought has brought us to an impass not unlike the pandemic of 2020. We will not be able to continue as we have. • Need is to inform architects' role in coming change; responsibility far surpasses what we are today doing. • Ground of my work is to bring spiritual practice near to architectural practice and bring to the fore the original questioning nature of architectural practice that gives measure as architectural loci in tune with nature. • Facilitate transformative use of the findings of science that technology enables. 

Vice President, AECOM Canada Architects Ltd., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Samuel Óghale Oboh (Sam) is a highly accomplished architect, resourceful leader and design management specialist committed to innovation, stewardship and achieving excellence for the greater public good. He is the 2015 President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) – the first Canadian of African descent to lead the 110-year-old professional organization.