SPEAKER INTERVIEW: DJ ARMIN

In talks with DJ Armin, Managing Partner ZAS Group of Companies

DJ Armin will be speaking at the Design Talks during The Big 5 in November. He is the Managing Partner at ZAS Group of Companies and he will be sharing his insight on "Promoting the green building revolution of Middle Eastern projects with sustainable design."

What are the top 3 important elements considered while designing green buildings for the region?

First and foremost is determining a sustainable design strategy that aligns and is complementary to the client’s vision, goals and operations. A successful green is not a building design that just bolts on the latest sustainable features without considering the client and the building users.  Instead green building design must grow naturally and incorporate features that are seen as beneficial to occupants and in this way will be valued and maintained over the life of the building.
Second is to think of the building in the larger context, not just one building in isolation but as part of a community of buildings that from a city and is connected to global infrastructure.  We see our designs for green buildings as a catalyst for more sustainable development, a first step in a long journey, towards a more sustainable future generally.
Third element to consider is measurable results.  We incorporate sensors to measure real world results of the sustainable design strategy.  This allows fine tuning of the building to improve environmental performance and for us to improve designs for future green buildings based on the data from previous builds.               

What are the challenges faced to get a building to be certified as sustainable?

Certification requires demonstration of adherence to global or regional standard, however, the best sustainable solutions are almost local based on the specific site and context.  Some times it can be difficult to demonstrate the best green design for a specific project also fits into the standard checklist     

 What is your take on the future of green building revolution?

The future is moving to larger scale sustainability, beyond a single building, to sustainable communities.  Measurement and variation of sustainable claims will also become more important in the future – showing that the promise of improved environmental performance and operational savings are actually delivered.   

What will be the key take away by the audience attending your talk?

Green buildings are growing in importance and market share. In the future sustainability will broaden to whole green communities and that green performance will be expected to be verified and measured. 

About DJ Armin -

DJ is a senior principal and Managing Partner of ZAS Group of Companies, he has extensive experience in managing and designing tall buildings, large scale and complex developments. His creative approach to developments has earned him a reputation of being one of the most credible people in the industry.

DJ has been an international expert advisor to many governments and semi-governments such as Government of Caribbean Island, Toronto Muncipality, Government of Libya, and Government of Ivory coast. His extensive design and management expertise of large scale & complex, mixed-use, high rise, and master planning projects has led to the successful completion of several large neighborhoods, infrastructure, cultural, corporate, institutional, residential, hospitality, passenger terminals, city centers and private / public sector projects.

Over the last 35 years, he has been associated with several high-profile projects in UAE, Canada, Caribbean Islands, France, Ivory Coast, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Oman, Kurdistan, Morocco, India and Angola.

Dr. Armin has a PhD. in Architecture and a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Sorbonne University in Paris.

You can hear more from DJ Armin on "Promoting the green building revolution of Middle Eastern projects with sustainable design" at the Design Talks on 29th November, 12:00 - 12:45.

About The Big 5

The Big 5 is the construction event providing leading-edge innovation, knowledge, and business opportunities for industry players around the world to connect, grow, and succeed.

Taking place annually in Dubai since 1979, the event has launched hundreds of thousands of products boosting the expansion of emerging markets. It has facilitated partnerships, advanced knowledge and industry best practices, while serving as the gateway for international companies to access the Middle East, Africa and South Asia regions.

The Big 5 covers the full construction cycle; not only does it showcase products across dedicated sectors, it also runs alongside nine specialised events enabling industry professionals to source building solutions from around the globe for every stage of the construction projects: The Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, Windows, Doors & Facades Event, Gulf Glass, HVAC R Expo, The Big 5 Solar, Middle East Stone, the Urban Design & Landscape Expo, and FM Expo.

The event includes high-level summits, practical seminars, CPD-certified workshops, and The Big 5 Impact Awards to foster collaboration, support best practices, and provide effective solutions to today’s industry challenges.

The Big 5 is organised by dmg events and is free to attend for all pre-registered visitors. 

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To know more, visit www.thebig5.ae


About dmg events

dmg events is a leading organiser of face-to-face events and a publisher of trade magazines.

We aim to keep businesses informed and connect them with relevant communities to create vibrant marketplaces and to accelerate their business through face-to-face events.

dmg events organises more than 80 events across 25 countries, attracting over 425,000 attendees and delegates every year. The company’s portfolio of products includes many industry-leading events in the energy, construction, hospitality & design, coatings and transportation sectors. ADIPEC, The Big 5, Gastech, EGYPS, The Hotel Show and INDEX are the company’s flagship events. For more information visit www.dmgevents.com.

About DMGT

DMGT manages a portfolio of companies that provide businesses and consumers with compelling information, analysis, insight, events, news and entertainment. The Group takes a long-term approach to investment and has market-leading positions in consumer media, insurance risk, property information, education technology, energy information and events & exhibitions. In total, DMGT generates revenues of around £1 billion.