Norman Yatabe

Abdulkader A. Al-Gilani,

Thanks for the reference for middle eastern plants. An Illustrated Guide to the Flowers of Saudi Arabia will be added to my shelf, and will be a great help for future projects in the area.

Syaryzad,

The market is Saudi Arabia is good. In fact, I’m now looking for three landscape architects to work with me. I work at one of the biggest design firms in the region “Zuhair Fayez Partnership” I am the lead landscape architect at the rapid projects department, and I urgently need three landscape architects to start working with my team…[Read more]

Hi guys..
I am wondering whether any of you are affected by the economical crisis at the moment? A few of my friends in Dubai were laid off recently due to the stagnant market..
Are there still market for Landscape Architect in the Middle East?

Info about the LEED Credentialing Program:
http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=83

Info about the LEED 2009 Greenbuild Update & the LEED 2009 Exam:
http://www.intheleed.com/the-leed-2009-greenbuild-update-the-leed-2009-exam/

Hi everyone! I have worked in Cairo on a collaborative project with Ain Shams University architecture students. It was an amazing experience and I would love to go back…maybe someday! I am glad to have found this room so I can see all the wonderful projects you are all working on in that part of the world.

Note: Buildings are “certified”, people are “accredited” – a possible question on the test according to a USGBC study group I went to. I am taking the test in December.

I wanted so say thank you to Abdulkader for the recommendation of the the Illustrated Guide to the flower of Saudi Arabia. It is a great resource. I was hoping that someone might be able to share their experience with procuring plant material in Dubai. The Landscape Contractor that we are working with is procuring most of the plant material from…[Read more]

Hello, hope this will be a constructive forum.

I am posting this for the sake of sharing knowledge. This might me the most comprehensive encyclopedia of native plants in Saudi Arabia.

An Illustrated Guide to the Flowers of Saudi Arabia. By Sheila Colenette.
Meteorology and Environmental Protection Administration, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Flora Publication no. 1.
Scorpion Publishing Ltd.,…[Read more]

The accreditation system seems quite blurry for now this side, save bulletins for seminars by the Emirates Green Building Council (initiative by HH Sheik Makhtoum), but developers are taking notice. Much talk in meetings about projects meeting Green Building standards, but not much push or initiative from the companies yet on getting on board the…[Read more]

I’m currently involved in a number of projects (mainly Qatar) going for LEED accreditation, some of the platinum.

It is not a directive from our consultancy (consider impact on client cost) but a desire from the client.

The main drive is in Qatar is from by QF / QP (Qatar Foundation) with the direct hands on influence of the Emir’s w…[Read more]

Hello all.

Three questions for all. (1) How significant is the LEED initiatives of the UAE (or the GCC in general) to your current projects and practice? (2) Is LEED accreditation a must in your office? (3) Have your office/EGBC/local LEED contacts informed you of the process to get accreditation?

A mouthful but important. Thanks in advance for…[Read more]

Looking for all gulf experienced LA’s to provide a true insight into the discipline in the region.