Leading construction industry experts will discuss the different ways in which urban design and architecture could foster well-being in cities at a one-day symposium being hosted by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) on October 14.

The event is being held in co-ordination with Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Department for International Trade (DIT UK), Kuwait University College of Architecture and Pace.

Set under the theme “Happiness in the City – Redesigning Urban Living”, the symposium will be held at the Regency Hotel, Kuwait, thus providing a unique platform for cultural, creative and technical minds to explore the concept of redesigning built-environments to better promote happiness and wellbeing.

Split into three workstreams (Creative, Cultural, and Technical), the symposium will bring both local and international high-level speakers - with international and regional experts in fields such as place-making to physical redevelopment, talking in parallel, as a flagship event for the country with up to over 250 attendees.

KFAS director-general Dr Adnan Shihab Eldin said: "We are pleased to be working with RIBA, Pace, DIT and Kuwait University on this outstanding event next month. Our collaboration comes as part of our initiative to find new innovative solutions to address the challenges facing our country, and  developing the capacities of researchers, policy makers and business executives."

"Based on the findings of this symposium, we aim to study social sustainability of urban environments, and identify the specific ways urban structural characteristics contribute to the behavioral, experiential and well-being outcomes," he added.

RIBA Gulf Chapter representative for Kuwait, and director of Architecture at Pace, Ian Purser, said: "Using the fast-paced redevelopment of Kuwait as a reference, the ‘Happiness in the City Symposium’ will provide delegates with a platform to debate how architecture and urban design can best support the wellbeing of our cities and the happiness of the people who live and work in them, as well as visit them."

"The symposium presents a unique opportunity for the attendees to discuss the relationship that ‘shared happiness’ has on the social and economic impact of our cities, with input from specialists in the field of architectural education, industry design and engineering, as well as sociology, environmental psychology and behavioral economics," he noted.

Pace CEO Tarek Shuaib said: "Our partnership with RIBA goes back years, just as well as KFAS, and it pleases us as one of the leading architectural firms in the region with 50 years of excellence to once more be a part of a major architectural event set up by RIBA and taking place in Kuwait."

"As pioneers in design and urban development, we find it necessary to participate in the discussion on how to give designers, architects and planners a more concrete understanding of wellbeing in order to build a happy environment that is sustainable – with a special focus on re-designing for equity, social inclusion and sociability that can help us all reconnect," he added.

Facade engineer and building envelope designer Mercedes Gargallo said: "These types of events are essential to share ideas and thoughts in users’ wellbeing to shape better world. Feelings of wellbeing are fundamental to the overall health of an individual."

"Designs should shift from market focus to end users as the centre of each project. During the symposium, we will cover a high-level overview of the main happiness indices with the introduction to the five pillars of personal wellbeing. This would continue by a workshop where participants would discuss intervention levels to improve cities, urban spaces and buildings," he noted.

The agenda includes a series of round table discussions, workshops, seminars and an exhibition, which will offer opportunities for delegates to collaborate and engage with fellow delegates and wider design community as well, he added.-TradeArabia News Service