Arba Minch Institute of Technology and Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science have hosted 1st joint online research symposium on Research in Architecture and Planning from January 30th to 31st, 2023. Click here to see more photos.

AMiT Scientific Director, Dr. Muluneh Lemma in his welcoming speech said, in accordance with already signed memorandum of understanding between AMiT & HITS, the 1st joint online research symposium was organized focusing on issues of architecture and urban planning. He also further noted that the research symposium would be a good platform for experience sharing for researchers, and PhD & MSc students of both institutions. He further stated that the MoU was signed to launch joint PhD programs, cooperate in the fields of research and technology transfer, and exchange staff.

AMU's Executive Research Directorate’s Director Dr. Tesfaye Habtemariam, in his opening remark, said, AMU has currently been working in collaboration with various national and international Universities and institutions in joint researches, academics and community engagement issues. The joint online symposium was first in its kind and such joint programs could be a lesson and remarkable experience to other colleges and institutes of the University, he added.

Faculty Dean of Architecture and Urban Planning Mr. Geremew Gebre said that the symposium was particularly organized to encourage interaction of researchers and students at all levels from both institutes. Because such gatherings bring together the academic and research communities in a formal setting so that they present, and discuss the current architectural practices and values from across the world, he explained. 30 research papers focusing on architecture and urban planning were presented and discussed during the two day online symposium time, the Faculty dean noted.

The 1st keynote speaker, Architect Fassil Giorghis, underscoring Ethiopian history of Architecture said, the architecture of Ethiopia varies greatly from region to region and,  over the years, it has incorporated various architectural styles and techniques. The Aksumite architecture of Ethiopia thrived in the region since the 4th century BC incorporating enormous underground burial chambers, and the utilization of stone monuments, Architect Fassil explained.  According to him, Ethiopian architecture continued to expand from the Aksumite style, but also incorporated new traditions like more wood and rounder structures throughout the medieval period; especially from the 10th to 12th centuries, churches were hewn out of rocks throughout Ethiopia. The architectural styles and techniques of Ethiopians since 8th century BC were remarkable, but the coming generations of the country could not make the art and wisdom of their ancestors sustainable, modernized and developed, he added.

Mr. Melese Becha from AMU presented a paper entitled “Planning and Design Assistance for Cluster: Governing Growth Aspect of Urban Center's Towards Sustainable Development in Southern Ethiopia” and focused on the physical spatial expansion and population growth of urban clusters of Arba Minch, Hosaena, and Sodo towns from 1984 - 2020. The result revealed that there was a rapid growth in urban spatial expansion and population growth of urban centers for the past three decades, and an imbalance between urban spatial expansion and population growth rate.

One of the HITS presenters, PhD scholar Chaya Y Chavan, presenting her paper on “The Relationship between Sustainable Housing Practices from Traditional Indian Culture and Environmental Sustainability” said, her study result showed that the traditional house form of 'Sawantwadi' has a strong connection with the culture; therefore, for the sustainable development of the house form, the regional and national cultural adaption in view of local climatic conditions was mandatory, she argued.

Research scholars from the institutions, PhD, MSc, and undergraduate students from AMU, AMU officials, and academic staffs were in attendance.

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