Sharjah 24: As part of efforts to enhance awareness of the history and development of Sharjah, Peter Jackson, Architect Advisor in the Office of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and a founding member of the Royal British Institute of Architects (RIBA) Gulf Branch, gave a distinguished lecture titled “Sharjah between the Present and the Past.”

The lecture, which was hosted by Sharjah Public Works Department at its headquarters, was attended by the department’s engineers and employees and those interested in the architecture and cultural development of the emirate.

In his lecture, Jackson praised the rich cultural and historical heritage of Sharjah, appreciating the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his fruitful contributions to developing design and architecture and creating an innovative environment of sustainable construction, pointing out the importance of understanding the historical roots of the emirate within the framework of civilisational development it is witnessing today. He reviewed aspects of the ancient history of Sharjah, starting from the ancient historical period until the modern stage, and touched on the factors that contributed to building the cultural and economic identity of the city.

He added that His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah is closely involved in the planning and architecture of many of the emirate’s high-end buildings, giving Sharjah its unique and distinct identity in the Arab and Islamic worlds, in addition to His Highness’s prominent role in preserving the fine traditional architectural heritage and historical and urban buildings.

Peter Jackson said that His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah has many contributions to the development of architecture and worked to formulate and shape the architecture of Sharjah, which gave it a unique shape through His Highness’s special passion for creative design and Islamic architecture.

In another part of the lecture, Jackson focused on the recent transformations and projects that enhance Sharjah's position as a distinguished civilisational and cultural centre in the region. He stressed the importance of continuing innovation and development within the framework of preserving the cultural and historical identity of the emirate, pointing out that Sharjah’s buildings beautifully and creatively represent the Islamic identity through their designs and architectural elements that express the rich Islamic heritage and traditional Arab culture, covered with unique Islamic decorations that are distinguished by their elegance and the complexity of their details. These include complex Islamic geometric decorations and beautiful Arabic inscriptions that adorn the facades of mosques and historical buildings, in addition to traditional domes and arches, which are distinctive signs of Islamic identity in architectural design. These structural elements reflect the religious spirit and Arab luxury with the use of ceramics and colored glass, giving them a touch of authenticity and beauty and highlighting Islamic culture and art. In addition to the focus on precision and detail, which reflects the high craftsmanship that was used in building traditional Islamic buildings, Sharjah is also famous for the presence of beautiful mosques that are considered the most prominent symbols of Islamic identity in the city, as their designs reflect geometric beauty and Islamic spirituality. In short, Sharjah’s buildings are amazingly expressive of the Islamic identity, as it combines traditional and modern architecture in a way that forms a symbol of Islamic heritage and culture in the region.

The audience interacted with excitement with the lecture, as it raised many questions and discussions about the future of Sharjah and the challenges it faces in order to preserve its heritage and enhance its position as a cultural and development centre.

Peter Jackson's lecture comes as part of a series of cultural events aimed at enhancing communication and understanding the history and cultural development of Sharjah, and encouraging dialogue about its bright and innovative future.