Middle East Academy of Landscape Architects

ries around the world). Given the extreme global concerns the need to promote environmental awareness and to educate is paramount. The phrase 'think globally act locally' has valued but understated application for Jordan and other Middle Eastern countries. There is a great need to not only expose, but also to train environmental professionals to the specifics of this field. The need for sustainable landscape design and practice in conjunction with the building boom here in the Middle East is of particular interest given the knowledge that Jordan is the forth-poorest country worldwide with regards to water resources. The establishment of the Middle East Academy of Landscape Architecture will fill an identified void within the Jordanian environmental community and Middle Eastern region. Kamel Mahadin was instrumental in introducing the profession of Landscape Architecture in Jordan by founding MK Associates, Jordan’s first professional landscape architecture office, in 1987. In addition to his professional practice he had taught design classes at the University Of Jordan School Of Architecture for the past 25 years, written four landscape architecture books, and served as a consultant for the Greater Amman Municipality, Mutah University, Al El Beit University, the Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities and the Royal Court. Mahadin was appointed as the Director General of the Petra Regional Council and in 1999 Minister of Water and Irrigation. ACADEMY PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy of the Academy is based on the current urgent need to merge the theoretical and the practical aspects of Landscape Architecture and its related professional planning disciplines. This merger will reflect on the students’ capabilities in design development and response to the environment and cultural atmosphere. VISION

“The Middle East Landscape Academy will enhance awareness and the practical application of landscape architecture skills within the working design community of Jordan and the Middle East”. MISSION

The Academy will function through its own methodology based on two main themes;

Capacity Building
Knowledge Transfer

These will provide Landscape practicing professionals with needed support to build their own capacity as designers not technicians. Academy Core Values

1-Promoting knowledge share and transfer to build the capabilities of the targeted practitioners

2-Building team-work spirit as Landscape Architecture is a multidisciplinary profession that involves many key players from different academic and professional fields.

3-Enhancing discipline, responsiveness and accountability to be able to produce work according to international professional landscape standards and guidelines

4-Developing professional attitudes to enable practitioners to adapt to the market and work environment and to produce problem solving oriented professionals. Accreditation & Registration

The Academy is registered officially in Jordan according to the Companies Control Department Regulations, and accredited by the Ministry of Education/Special Education as a qualified academic and professional entity which is entitled to carry out training and qualifying architects, landscape architects, and practitioners.


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Board of Directors

A Board of Directors from the international, regional and local design community are actively supervising the Academy in terms of defining its areas of focus and insuring that it fulfills its objectives. The following is the list of distinguished professionals which includes educators, practicing architects and landscape architects, artists and writers. They were chosen on the bases of their particular interests, strengths and leadership abilities.

- Prof. Kamel Mahadin (ASLA, IFLA, Jordan)
Founder, Educator, Author, Artist, Jordan
As of August 2nd Prof. Dr. Kamel Mahadin has been appointed as a chief commissioner of Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority therefore he withdraws from MK Associates and MEALA as a Chairman of the Board. James Turner (FASLA, USA)
Landscape Architect, Artist, Educator, Author
- Prof. Richard England (Malta)
CEO Richard England Associates, Architect, Poet, Artist, Educator, Author
- Prof. Franco Zagari (Italy)
CEO Zagari Architects, Architect, Landscape Architect, Educator, Author
- Prof. Sadik Artunic (FASLA, USA)
Department head of Landscape Architecture at Mississippi State University, Landscape Architect, Educator, Author
- Dr. Ali Abu Ghanima (Jordan)
School Dean of Architecture, Educator, Author
- Arch. Tariq Mahadin (Jordan)
Landscape Architect, Educator