Adach to establish centre for Al Ain clay buildings

The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (Adach) will establish a regional centre for clay buildings in Al Ain city in order to fill the Arab region's shortage for training programs of this important specialisation. The training centre will provide professional development to experts based in the UAE and the region in the areas of preserving existing clay buildings and constructing modern ones. The centre will also provide research capabilities to experiment and innovate clay materials, says Adach. Adach recently organised a pilot operation of the curriculum program at the centre, which was developed in partnership with experts from the Bauhaus-University Weimar, Germany. This pilot program, which was held in Al Ain, is a sneak preview of seven days prior to the six-week program, which is aimed at architects, engineers, archaeologists, restorers, contractors and craftsmen in the middle of their careers. The lectures focused on materials and construction techniques with clay, as well as business strategies for professionals working in this field. One of the elements of this program's components covered the diagnosis and restoration of historic buildings. The participants, who included employees from various departments in Adach and UAE University students, learned a number of basic concepts throughout the five days of classroom lectures. Field exercises were provided, over the two days at Bait Ibn Al Hadi Al Darmaki in the Hili Oasis, practical training to distinguish and mix construction materials, prepare bricks, build walls and put plaster. This will allow the pilot program of Adach to assess and develop the curriculum before the founding of the regional centre for clay buildings in Al Ain, which dedicates its activities in the framework of the Adach's mission to promote and revitalise the traditions of sustainable construction in the region and develop research capacities in the field of environment-friendly architecture while working to build professional capabilities and promote the culture of Abu Dhabi locally, regionally and globally, it noted. From / Gulf News