Kohler to explore Smart Cities
Following the success of previous Kohler Design Forum series events in China and Singapore, the firm is set to continue its partnership with Sleeper, bringing the event to Dubai and Hong Kong in Autumn 2016.
Taking place on Wednesday 26 October and Tuesday 29 November respectively, the forums will explore the topic of ‘Smart Cities’ under the title ‘Designing The Connected City – Global Nomads in The Age of Urban Innovation’. A series of guest speakers will discuss how cities can improve their liveability and attractiveness to travellers of today and into the future, as global urbanisation accelerates.
According to Design Forum host Guy Dittrich: “Attendees will embark on a journey to see how augmented reality, near-field communication technology and cloud computing are being used to make our cities smarter. Increasingly, embedded technologies leverage the power of WiFi networks, allowing progressive cities and hotel operators the chance to offer a better quality of life to those who visit the city for work or play. Smart hotels, integrated, more efficient transport networks and real-time information services are empowering visitors and making our cities more user-friendly.”
Speakers already confirmed for the Dubai event include Isabel Pintado, Senior VP and Managing Director of Wilson Associates – Dubai, the interior architect responsible for leading Wilson Associates design studio; and Nasser Turk, Regional Design Manager for the Middle East and Africa at WATG and Wimberly Interiors. Turk is a masterplanner and urban, landscape and graphic designer with over 18 years of experience.
Speakers at the Hong Kong edition will include: Wilfred Lau, Director at Arup, whose work focuses on the development of cities in Asia, advising governments on development and delivery of future generation cities; and Julia Monk, Director of Hospitality at HOK. Mark Bickerstaffe, who joined Kohler in 2004 to lead design and product development across the EMEA, India and Asia Pacific regions, will speak at both events.
Says Peter Oesch, Director of Marketing & Communications for Kohler Asia Pacific: “We are very pleased to expand our successful series with Sleeper into other cities that we consider design hubs. Technology is a global mega trend that permeates all areas of our life and we wanted to initiate a discussion to explore the different aspects of it and how it impacts our urban living spaces.”
