18th Edition – Zak World of Façades UAE

After the huge success of the 2015 Inaugural season, Zak World of Façades Middle East was back in Dubai for its second season, making it the biggest congregation of the façade market experts in the UAE. The third edition of the Zak World of Facades Middle East took place on the 14th March 2016 at The Oberoi Hotel in Dubai. The event had gathered 300+ attendees comprising some of the top architects, consultants, façade contractors, developers and representatives from the Dubai Municipality. The single day event had featured 30 speakers and panelists.

The event was convened by Alex Dantziguian from Technoform. The first session opening speech was delivered by Micha Pawelka from Priedemann who spoke about the need of having a specialist façade consultant on a project and the benefits of of having them. This was followed by the morning keynote delivered by Janus Rostock from Atkins who spoke about designing façades keeping pedestrian comfort in mind and the case study of the Dubai Opera House district. Monish Aidasani from Jotun then presented on the era and evolution of powder coatings in the Middle East and the session end with a networking break.

The second session featured a presentation by Lucio Blandini from Werner Sobek on minimalistic façade design and futuristic façade concepts. This was followed by a presentation by Karim Maalouli of Emirates Glass speaking on the limitations and challenges in glass processing in the Middle East. The special keynote for the day was delivered by Raj Patel from KEO who spoke on the case studies of few of the region’s largest projects namely the Kuwait Investment Authority Building, Qatar Petroleum District and the Paramount Towers. The session ended with a panel discussion on fire safety in façades which discussed the proposed new fire code by the Dubai Civil Defense which raked up a lot of interesting questions from the audience which were taken keenly by the panelists.

The third session post lunch kicked off with a presentation by Abdulmajid Karanouh from Ramboll speaking on context inspired design innovation with case studies of the North Souks project in Beirut by Zaha Hadid and thier other key projects in the region. This was followed by an exclusive session on façade acoustics which first feature a presentation by Bernhard Koll from Kuraray who spoke about acoustic sound dampening through PVB interlayers and then a presentation by Mike Carrick from Siderise on acoustic inserts for cavity barriers and mullions. This session ended with a panel discussion on acoustics in façade focusing on the new Dubai Municipality regulation on acoustics by members of the Middle East Acoustic Society (MEAS) and the session end with another networking break.

The final session for the day started by a presentation on coating warranties and standards by Yannis Angelis from Elval Colour followed by a presentation on innovative fixing systems by Paul Tsalokhin from Hilti and the conference ended by a very interesting and engaging panel discussion on understanding façade process management with expert views from a façade consultant, architect and façade contractor.

The third edition of the Zak World of Facades Middle East in Dubai was stupendous success and was highly appreciated for its content, key decision makers who attended the event, ambience, networking break-out sessions and more importantly imparting the knowledge about the latest innovations in façades and upcoming fire safety codes in the UAE.

Speakers and Panelists
Chief of Engineering, Dubai Civil Defence
Principal | Architecture Design Director, Gensler Middle East
As Architecture Design Director of Gensler Middle East, Raj leads a practice delivering high-profile commercial, hospitality and lifestyle projects throughout the region and Asia. Raj’s experience across different cultures influences his design approach as he weaves traditional and modern architecture...
Managing Director, Meinhardt Façade Technology
Paul Grove has 31 years of experience in the façade industry, attaining an extensive in depth knowledge of Unitized façade systems, Conventional Stick façade systems, Aluminium cladding systems, Roofing systems, along with Louvre and sunshade systems, giving a complete knowledge...
Managing Director, Technoform
Alex Dantziguian is the Managing Director of Technoform Middle East DMCC, based in Dubai since 2006. TECHNOFORM, is the global leader based in Germany with worldwide know-how on thermal insulation of doors, windows, & facades for over 50 years. With...
Head of Specialist Services, WSP Middle East
Andy has over 25 years of experience in the field of Building and Construction, ranging from structural testing within the nuclear industry to fire testing. Having established the Dubai Cladding Technology Centre and Laboratory, and operated it for 10 years,...
Managing Director, FACET Façade Engineering
Nitin has trained as an architect and has worked across disciplines including design, management, R&D and forensics and is currently working on several projects in India and overseas including super tall buildings such as the 117 floor World One Tower...
International Director | Head of Interdisciplinary Design & Innovation, Drees & Sommer
With a background in Mathematics (Bacc-II), Architecture (BSc), Computation (MSc), Engineering (MSc) and Design Communication (ongoing PhD), Abdulmajid Karanouh has developed over the years from a passionate specialist in complex geometry into an inter-disciplinary design lead in high-tech architecture. From...
Technical Officer - Construction Acoustics, Siderise Group
Mike Carrick is the Head of Acoustics at Siderise. Mike has worked for the Siderise Group for over 27 years. He is one of three qualified acoustic engineers within the group and is a member of the Institute of Acoustics...
Technical Marketing Manager, Kuraray Europe
Bernhard Koll joined the today’s Kuraray Europe company/Germany in 1990. The first 11 years he worked in R&D group for TROSIFOL Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) interlayer for laminated safety glass. In 2002 he moved to the Technical Marketing position being responsible...
Senior Associate Director, Benoy
Following graduation in 2003, Ewa Juszczyk has gained extensive experience working in architectural practices around the world. She has worked on numerous projects from concept design, schematic design, planning application submission, detailed design through to the delivery of construction documentation....
Director Pre-Construction Services, Schueco Middle East
Thomas Fruhmann is a senior Façade/Building Skin Specialist with a top-level experience in curtain wall construction industry. He has acquired a diversified experience in design, production, project coordination, project management, contracts management, risk management, and tender/sales management, and developed a...
Segment Manager - Façade, Hilti Middle East
Nabeel has more than 12 years in the Façade and Aluminium Industry. He has undertaken various roles from façade engineering, contracting and business development experience. His roles have enabled him to meet and work with the most renowned architects, façade contractors...
Chief Operating Officer, Priedemann Façade Experts
Micha Pawelka, who has an academic qualification in Wholesale Management and Foreign Trade, gained over 20 years of experience in the Glass and Facade Industry in Europe. He was a Sales Director in the Schollglas Group in Germany before relocating...
Managing Director, Werner Sobek Dubai
Benjamin has been working as a façade professional for 20 years with projects around the world and long-term positions in Stuttgart, London, New York and Dubai. After building up and heading the Dubai office of Werner Sobek in the position...
Director, Future Architectural Glass
Firoz Kachwala is the Founding member and General Manager of Future Glass. With a Masters degree from NYU specializing in Operations and Bachelor in Engineering, Firoz was instrumental in setting up the advanced safety glass manufacturing plant in RAK (UAE)...
General Manager, Elval Colour
Yannis Angelis is a Mechanical Engineer and is for the last seven years the General Manager of Elval Colour. Yannis is a board member of European Coil Coating Association (ECCA), Co-chairman of European Aluminium Association (EAA) Building Group and member...
General Manager, Al Ghurair Construction Aluminium
Bashar is a Master’s degree holder of Construction Project Management from Heriot Watt University (UK) and has accomplished his studies in the field of BS Mechanical Engineering (Production & Design) in Aleppo University Syria, with over 20 years of progressive...
Architectural Director - Special Projects, Arif & Bintoak
Sharif Rahmani is one of the leading Architects in conceptualizing complex and organic geometries. Sharif is the Architectural director for special projects in Arif & Bintoak and before that he was a Lead Design Architect/Associate with WS Atkins for 10...
Global Marketing Director, Façades, Hilti
Paul is a strategic sales and marketing leader with an engineering degree and Masters in Marketing, with the ability to demonstrate a success in working independently and with a team of people from different backgrounds and cultures,leading cross-cultural teams. He...
Director - Architecture, Perkins + Wills Middle East
David Lessard is Director of Architecture at Perkins + Will Dubai – recognized as ‘Best Large Architecture Firm of the Year’ at The Middle East Architect awards 2015. With nearly a decade of experience in the MENA region David has...
Regional Design Director, Atkins Middle East
Janus Rostock works as Regional Design Director for Atkins with more than 20 years’ experience. Specialising in complex multidisciplinary projects and masterplans, he has proven expertise in a wide variety of projects including the Dubai Opera project and its district,...
Regional Specifications Manager - MEIA, Jotun Powder Coatings
Monesh Aidasani is currently the Regional Specifications Manager for the powder coating division in Jotun. Having graduated from Mumbai University as a Chemical Engineer in 1998, Monesh has 15 years of experience in the facade and aluminium finishing industry. He...
Managing Director & Partner, Werner Sobek; Director of ILEK, University of Stuttgart
Dr. Lucio Blandini studied structural engineering at the Universities of Catania and Bologna before moving to the University of Stuttgart. There he obtained his Ph.D. at the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK). In this context, he developed...
Architectural Design Manager, Guardian Glass
An Architectural Design Manager with Guardian Glass, Karim is originally a sales & marketing specialist from Lebanon, he moved to Dubai in 2010 and has since been working with architects, consultants, and developers in the Middle East region on some...
Design Director, DSA Architects
Floris is an award winning architect and urban designer with over 35 years experience spanning 3 continents: Africa, Australia and the Middle East. As chairman of the celebrated design firm Meyer Pienaar and Partners in South Africa and subsequently in...
Associate Director - Fire Engineering, Arup
John is the leader of Arup’s Fire Engineering Practice in the Gulf. A Chartered Fire Safety Engineer he holds a BSc Hons in Fire Safety Engineering. John has gained a wide range of experience in fire engineering in Middle East,...
Regional Product Manager - BU Chemicals, Hilti Middle East
Yavnish Adlakha is an astute professional with over 12 years’ experience in field of Passive Fire Protection ranging from Fire protection boards, Fire protection Coatings, Glass and Firestops. Yavnish is currently working with Hilti as product manager and is responsible...
Senior Innovation Designer, Ramboll Middle East
Ethan Kerber is a Senior Innovation Designer at Ramboll Facades & Innovation Design. He holds graduate degrees in Industrial Design as well as Computational Design and Construction. Past projects range from algorithmic design for facades to research and development on...
Partner & Principal Acoustic Engineer, Design Confidence
Paul oversees the Acoustic Engineering team consulting on the design and commissioning of commercial, private & public spaces from initial and concept design to tender stage submission and return assessments. The team also conduct preliminary and final commissioning testing and...
Associate Director – Acoustics, Ramboll Middle East
Andreas holds a Master of Science in Sound and Vibration and has 10 years of experience in acoustics and communications design. In July 2014, Andreas joined Ramboll in Dubai as an Associate Director to start up their Acoustic Section in...
Conference Agenda
  • Detailed design guidance vs design-and-build approach
  • Limit to sufficient crowd: Too many cooks spoil the broth
  • Don’t interrupt – let the guidance continue
  • Façades designed with the pedestrian experience in mind
  • Case study of the Dubai Opera
  • Aluminium finishing industry
  • Technologies available for aluminium finishes
  • Advancement in powder coating technology
  • Engineering iconic complex skins in the digital era
  • Transparent and sustainable?
  • Innovative custom solutions pay off
  • Discussion on real capacities locally and the idea of reducing carbon footprint
  • Float line sizes/tints/thicknesses availability, coating capacity and coating variety done regionally
  • Limitations in heat treatment, creramic fritting, lamination & double glazing
  • Islamic architectural patterns in Facade design
  • Facades with the third dimensionality of depth
  • Case study on the Kuwait Investment Authority HQ, Qatar University Administration Building & Qatar Petroleum District
  • Current problems and possible solutions
  • Cladding - right choice of material, tests & standards
  • Perimeter firestopping - Preventing the spread of smoke from floor to floor
  • Fire resistance' vs 'Reaction to fire' - Clarification of 'Fire rated' terminology
  • Fire safety review and audits

Andy Dean

  • Increasing demands for high-performance innovative solutions in the AEC industry
  • Context inspired innovation through multi-disciplinary collaboration
  • Ramboll Design Innovation group’s philosophy and case studies
  • Acoustic terminology & sound transmission paths
  • Acoustic terminology & sound transmission paths
  • Performance limiting factors & acoustic enhancing products
  • Principles of acoustic damping in glass
  • Different acoustic PVB interlayers and their benefits
  • Examples of building application with laminated acoustic glazing and their advantages over regular glazing types
  • The current acoustic regulations of Estidama & Dubai Green Building Council
  • Acoustical control requirement for various building types
  • Understanding the role of building envelopes to meet the acoustic regulations
  • Implementation of acoustics & the role of an acoustic consultant
  • Sound transmission classes & acoustical testing

Alex Dantziguian

  • Importance of proper passivation in aluminium substrate
  • Paint specifications per warranty period
  • Functional coatings
  • Corner solution for Cast in channel
  • Non cleaning chemical anchor for post installed and cast in remedial
  • New mechanical anchor for thin slab
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