Personal Information
Email: [email protected] Date of Birth: 26.10.1976
Nationality: Saudi Arabian Place of Birth: Graz, Austria
Education
2014 Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership
Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA 2014 Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation
Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA 2004-2010 PhD in Architecture from the School of Architecture, Planning and
Landscape, Newcastle University, UK
Title of thesis: The Architectural Discourse of Riyadh: An interpretive-historical reading of its contemporary architecture.
Supervised by Prof. Andrew Ballantyne and Dr. Stephen Kite
2000-2002 First class honours Master of Architecture specializing in History, Theory and Criticism from the College of Architecture and Planning, King Faisal
University, Saudi Arabia GPA: 4.95/5.0
1995-2000 First class honours Bachelor of Interior Architecture from College of Architecture and Planning, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia GPA: 4.97/5.0
Experience and Positions
Nov 2013- Jan 2015
Ibn Khaldoun Postdoctoral Fellow in the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
Sep 2013- Director of the Patents and Technology Transfer Office, University of
Sep 2010- Nov 2012
Head of the organizing committee for the Sustainability through Biomimicry Conference, organized by the College of Design on 26-27 November 2012 May 2011- Vice Dean for Quality, Development and Academic Accreditation of the
College of Design, University of Dammam
May 2011- Head of Graphic Design and Multimedia Department at the College of Design, University of Dammam
2010- Assistant Professor in the Department of Interior Architecture, College of Architecture and Planning, Dammam University (previously King Faisal University), Saudi Arabia
2005-2009 Part-time Design tutor, Bachelor of Architecture Programme
School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University 2005-2007 Editor-in-chief of ‘Forum: International Journal of Postgraduate Studies in
Architecture, Planning and Landscape’ a journal based in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at Newcastle University, UK
2002-2004 Lecturer in the Department of Interior Architecture, College of Architecture and Planning, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
2001-2004 Master of Architecture programme coordinator, College of Architecture and Planning, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
Research experience and interests
The PhD thesis examined the recent architectural history of contemporary public buildings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It provided a critical history by means of reading the architectural discourse of the region in a political light. The research employed a mixed methodology of interpretive-historical research combined with interviews, case studies, content analysis and archival research.
Research interests include areas of intersection between architecture and politics such as the mediation of power in space and place; ideologies and nation-building in architectural practice; and regionalism within modernism.
Peer-reviewed Publications
Al-Solaiman, Sumayah, 2015 (forthcoming). “Architecture as a Tool of Editing History: The case of King Abdulaziz Historical Center.” Representation of Tradition. The Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Working Paper Series Vol. 258.
Al-Solaiman, Sumayah. 2013. “The Absence and Emergence of Calligraphy in Najd:
Calligraphy as a Modernist Component of Architecture in Riyadh.” In Gharipour,
Mohammad and Schick, Irvin Cemil (eds.). Calligraphy in Islamic Architecture: Space, Form and Function. Edinburgh University Press.
Al-Solaiman, Sumayah. 2012. “Applying Biomimicry in Architecture: A critical examination.” Proceedings of the Sustainability through Biomimcry Conference.
Sustainability through Biomimicry conference, 26-27 November 2012; Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Al-Solaiman, Sumayah. 2001. “The Effect of Past Experience on the Homes of Families of High Mobility”. Proceedings of the Interior Architectural Environment: Future Prospects symposium, 25-26 April 2001, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Participation in Conferences, Symposia & Seminars
Paper entitled: “Architecture as a Tool of Editing History: The case of King Abdulaziz Historical Center”
IASTE 2014: Whose Tradition? – Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments
14-17 December 2014; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Presentation entitled: “Tracing the cultural politics of contemporary architecture in the Gulf”
Ibn Khaldun Fellowship Workshop, Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy 15 Oct 2014, Massachusetts of Institute of Technology
Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture Lecture: “The Historiography of Contemporary Architecture in the Gulf”
5 May 2014, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Invited participation to present a paper entitled: “From Architectural Discourse to Architectural History: The case of Riyadh”
Ambivalent Geographies Workshop II
6-7 May 2010; Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey Seminar entitled: “A Critical Reading of Riyadh’s Architectural Discourse”
APL Seminar Series
10 February 2010; Newcastle University
Paper entitled: “Mediating National Identity: The case of King Abdulaziz Historical Centre”
Seminar entitled: “Reading Riyadh’s Contemporary Architecture”
APL Seminar Series
6 June 2007; Newcastle University
Paper entitled: “Examining Riyadh’s Contemporary Architecture: Literature review and methodology”
APL Postgraduate Conference Series 20 June 2006; Newcastle University
Paper entitled: “Modernity and Tradition Converse: Riyadh’s contemporary architecture”
Scientific Days of the Saudi Universities in Austrian Universities 24-28 April 2006; Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria
Member of official Saudi delegation to the conference and accompanying events organized by the Ministry of Higher Education
Paper entitled: “Adaptation to a New Model of Housing: A Case Study of Low-Rise Private- Sector Housing, Elghat, Saudi Arabia”
18th iaps conference EVALUATION IN PROGRESS: Strategies for Environmental Research and Implementation
7-10 July 2004; Vienna, Austria
Paper entitled: “The Effect of ‘Status’ on the Efficiency of the House”
Symposium of Housing II: “Affordable Dwelling”
28-31 March 2004; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Full paper is published in proceedings.
Paper entitled: “Forget the Glass Ceiling ... We Need a Floor: The case of the Saudi Interior Architects”
Women in Science: Is the Glass Ceiling Disappearing?
8-10 March 2004; New Delhi, India,
Participation as part of an official Saudi women’s delegation
Paper entitled: “The Effect of Past Experience on the Homes of Families of High Mobility”
Interior Architectural Environment… Future Prospects 25-26 April 2001; Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Languages
German – native proficiency
Arabic – native proficiency
English – native proficiency
French – beginner
Awards and Esteem Indicators
Awarded the Ibn Khaldoun Postdoctoral Fellowship, Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy, Mechanical Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Placed in the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture.
Best poster award at the 2nd year Research Postgraduate Conference, Newcastle University, 18 May 2006. Poster entitled: “Modernist and Traditionalist Architecture:
Same difference?”
Selected to officially represent Saudi Arabia as part of academic delegations of the Saudi Ministry of Higher Education to India (2004), the United States of America (2004) and Austria (2006). Selections at this level were approved by HM King Fahd bin
Abdulaziz and HM King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.
Selected to represent Saudi Arabia in an official delegation to the conference and accompanying events organized by the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in London The Gulf Family: Modernity and Kinship Policies; School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 28 April 2005, London, UK
Awarded Prince Mohammed bin Fahad prize for academic excellence in 2000.
Most recent workshops and training courses attended
“Transforming your Leadership Strategy.” 18-19 Nov 2014. Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Understanding and Solving Complex Business Problems.” 6-7 Nov 2014. Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Revitalizing Your Digital Business Model.” 16-17 Oct 2014. Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Maximizing your Personal Productivity.” 15-16 July 2014. Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Building, Leading, and Sustaining the Innovative Organization.” 12-13 June 2014. Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Developing and Managing a Successful Technology and Product Strategy.” 10-11 June 2014.
Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Graphic Design Hackshop, MIT Design for America.” 28 Sep 2014, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“MIT Post-doc/EMBA Innovation Teams Weekend.” 6-7 Sep 14, MIT Innovation Initiative, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“I think I just invented something... Now what?” 9 May 14, MIT Technology Licensing Office, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Research Data Management: File Organization.” 22 Jan 14, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Having more Time per Minute - An Introduction to Time Management.” 21 Jan 14, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Zotero Basics.” 21 Jan 14, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“From Lab Bench to Innovation - Creating Ventures from University Research.” 16 Jan 14, MIT Technology Licensing Office, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Protect your Invention & Turn it Into a Startup!” 15 Jan 14, MIT Technology Licensing Office, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Patent Searching Fundamentals.” 14 Jan 14, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Basics of Copyrights and Software IP.” 14 Jan 14, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“Coolnetworking 3.0,” 8-10 Jan 14, Center for Collective Intelligence, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Spoke at the “Preparing Teaching Assistants and Lecturers for Scholarship” workshop. 22 May 2012. University of Dammam.
“Learning Outcomes and KPIs.” Workshop organized by the NCAAA, Al-Khobar 15-16 May 2012.
“Assessment Strategies in Higher Education Workshop.” Organized by the Institute of Education, University of London in collaboration with the Deanship of Educational Development, University of Dammam 10-12 April 2012.
“Procedure of preparing the Program Self-Study (جمانربلل ةيتاذلا ةساردلا ريرقت دادعإ تاءارجإ).”
Workshop organized by the NCAAA, Riyadh 3-4 April 2012.
“External Reviewer Training.” Workshop organized by the NCAAA, Riyadh, 18-21 February 2012.
“Faculty Evaluation and Peer Review.” Workshop organized by the NCAAA, Jeddah, 11-12 December 2011.
“Program and Course Learning Outcomes based on NQF for Medical, Science, Eng, and Humanities.” Workshop organized by the NCAAA, 12-13 Nov 2011.
“Quality Assurance and Program Assessment (Arabic – يجماربلا ميوقتلا و ةدوجلا نامض)”.
Workshop organized by the NCAAA, Al-Khobar, 18-19 October 2011.
“Recruiting, developing and retaining faculty for the twenty-first century” Academic
Leadership Development Workshop for Academic Deans and Department Chairs. Workshop organized by the Academic Leadership Center of the Ministry of Higher Education, Al- Khobar, 15-16 October 2011.
“Workshop on Teaching and Learning.” Organized by the University of Dammam and the Institute of Education, University of London, Dammam, 20-22 September 2011.
“Program specifications and annual reports (Arabic – ةيونسلا اهريراقت و جماربلا فيصوت)”.
Workshop organized by the NCAAA, Al-Khobar, 24-25 May 2011.
“Planning and implementation of self-study for institutional accreditation”. Workshop organized by the NCAAA, Al-Khobar, 21-22 May 2011.
“Building a Learner-Centered Learning Process of a Course Based on Constructivism Concept”. Organized by the Deanship of E-learning and distance learning at UD, 27 March 2011.
“Discussion of Action Plans for the E-Learning and Distance Learning Opportunities in their Disciplines”. Organized by the Deanship of E-learning and distance learning at UD, 29 March 2011.
“E-learning week”. Organized by the Deanship of E-learning and distance learning at UD, 26- 29 March 2011.
“Program & course documentation”. Organized by Deanship of Quality Assurance &
Accreditation (DQAA) at UD in collaboration with the University of Monash, University of Dammam, 11-13 January 2011.
“Workshop in Strategic Planning” (يجيتارتسلاا طيطختلا يف ةيقيبطت ةقلح). Workshop organized and conducted by the Institute of Public Administration, Mercure Hotel, Al-Khobar, 5-7
December 2010.
Membership of Societies and Research Groups
The Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain – SAHGB
Historians of Islamic Art Association - HIAA
Architectural Humanities Research Association – AHRA
Tectonic Cultures Research Group – TCRG
International Society for the Philosophy of Architecture – ISPA
Undergraduate Teaching
Architectural Design Studio for years 1, 2 and 3
Design Studio for years 3, 4 and 5
Research Methods
Senior Design Thesis
History of Architecture I
Architecture in Saudi Arabia
Environmental Control Systems II
Materials of Construction II
AutoCAD I
Graphic Design with Adobe Photoshop
Graphic Design with CorelDraw
Web Design
Membership of Committees
2011-2012 Member of the High Council for the organization of the preparatory
2005 Member of the organization committee of the 2nd Annual AHRA Research Student Symposium held at the School of Architecture, Planning & Landscape, University of Newcastle upon Tyne on 7 May 2005
2006 -2009 Student Representative in the Postgraduate Committee of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University
2005-2007 Student Representative in the Research Training Programmed Committee of the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty, Newcastle University
2006-2007 Student Representative in the Board of Studies Committee, Newcastle University
Software Skills
Adobe Photoshop
Dreamweaver
CorelDraw
AutoCAD
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, FrontPage)
Windows Movie Maker
SPSS
N6
Hobbies
Running
Reading
Music
