Zainab Faruqui Ali

Biography

Zainab Faruqui Ali, professor of architecture at University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia, obtained her PhD from the Architectural Association, London, and her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her PhD work was on the sustainable aspects of the buildings in the Indian subcontinent designed by Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn. The research included studying the Capitol complex in Chandigarh and the Sarabhai House and the Millowners’ Association Building in Ahmedabad by Le Corbusier and the Capitol complex in Dhaka and the IIM buildings in Ahmedabad by L. I. Kahn from an environmental point of view. She has worked for various architectural firms in USA and Bangladesh and has been teaching architecture for the past twenty years. She has taught at EMU in Northern Cyprus, BUET and BRAC University in Bangladesh. Some of the courses taught by Dr. Zainab include architectural and interior design studios, sustainable architecture, history of architecture and arts, freehand sketching, music appreciation. Dr. Zainab was the recipient of Tuition scholarship of Architectural Association School of Architecture, London for her doctoral studies. Among her special awards is the American Institute of Architects ‘Excellence in the Study of Architecture’ award for undergraduate studies in USA. Dr. Zainab has been active in researches on the sustainable aspects of traditional architecture as well as of low cost building materials, and co-curricular activities of university students. Currently she is conducting a research on ‘Environment performances of traditional buildings of KSA’ under DSR, UOD. She has been also involved in the action research projects in the slums of Bangladesh. She has attended numerous conferences and seminars on various topics such as ‘passive and low energy architecture’, ‘solar energy’, ‘architectural education’ and ‘university administration’. She has published numerous papers and articles and has recently co-authored a monograph titled Muzharul Islam Architect, on the pioneer of modern architecture in Bangladesh. She has been involved with the Aga Khan Award for Architecture actively since 2007. Dr. Zainab was the Director of Student Affairs at BRAC University for several years. Her special interests are sustainable architecture, history-theory, conservation and music.

Research Interest

architectural and interior design studios, sustainable architecture, history of architecture and arts, freehand sketching, music appreciation.