August 05, 2008 | Recommend this Article »

Learning stone in Carrara

12 young Saudi architects passed the Learning Stone exam in Carrara

The final exam for the Specialisation course in the use of stone “Learning stone in Carrara”, this highly specialised course conceived to create professionals able to design with natural stone in buildings for uses which enhance their aesthetic characteristics, was successfully passed by all twelve architects. The course was organised for the third time by the Internazionale Marmi e Macchine in collaboration with the Italian Embassy and the King Saud University of Riyadh.
The course is particularly important since it is part of a much wider programme of institutional relations set up with the Gulf countries, based on a solid cultural relationship with the major Saudi universities. It offers young people attending the architectural faculty of Riyadh University the opportunity to acquire in-depth technical and cultural knowledge and is in line with the IMM’s mission to promote marble by means of correct information and technical training for design professionals.
The tutors for the course, based on theory lessons inside the classroom and technical visitis to production plants and design offices for a total of 80 hours, were experts from the IMM itself and freelance professionals who gave lectures on the main issues of interest for designers: production (quarry and processing), identification and choice of materials, production processes, applications in architecture, installation of materials, innovation, design, production of art pieces and luxury objects.

The course included visits to quarries, companies and laboratories where tests are carried out on materials in order to create a complete grounding that will be essential for the professional future of the young Saudi architects. Acting as a facilitator on the course was no less than Professor Imad Outahbachi, who is well versed in the Italian language together with his assistant Hamad Abdullah Alolayan. At the end of the lessons the architects took an exam to assess their knowledge and all twelve passed with flying colours “thanks to the perfect organisation by the IMM which allowed the students to learn in the best way possible” said Prof Outahbachi “by selecting teachers and companies suited to the course objectives. It is essential that this relationship continues over time and that we immediately start planning action to be carried out outside these courses which have proven to be significant in bringing together and comparing cultures and design methods based on the correct use of stone.”

An invitation taken up by the Internazionale Marmi e Macchine Chairman, Giorgio Bianchini, who, during the certificates award ceremony (the photos show moments from the ceremony and the group) committed himself to “continuing these activities based on the experience gained by the Internazionale Marmi e Macchine over the last thirty years of relations with architects, universities and companies from the world over. Giving above all young architects the tools necessary to begin a professional career involving the correct use of natural stone with the experience of our companies is the best promotional investment for the entire “stone system” which will guarantee the level of quality which, together with the direct relationship with designers, may be decisive in facing the challenges of globalisation through added value to our products, the teaching of methods of selection and the correct use of stone materials and giving information as to the laying and processing techniques, including the most innovative.“
The marble promotions campaign in the Arab countries does not finish here: the next action will be carried out by the IMM, the Saudi universities and local institutions (including the associations of architects of Riyadh) already in the first few months of 2009 with a mission to the Middle East with the participation of companies from the area interested in stepping up relations with local professionals who have also shown an interest.