CULTURE & ECOLOGY | INTBAU

photo by @Ganna Ostapenko

INTBAU is a global network committed to shaping places where people truly belong—through traditional architecture, urbanism, and building crafts.

Across countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, and France, INTBAU brings together architects, designers, and thinkers who believe in heritage as a foundation for the future. I had the chance to take part in INTBAU Qatar, guiding students through the principles of Regenerative Design within the unique setting of an Eco-Agri Tourism farm in Qatar.

A setting I know intimately—Heenat Salma Farm has been a space of creation, exchange, and community-building for me. Designing there, working with local materials, and embracing permaculture in an arid climate has been a journey of learning and adaptation. Sharing this experience with students—walking them through the design choices, the challenges, and the cultural layers woven into the project—offered them an immersive, hands-on understanding of Regenerative Design.

The INTBAU Qatar Winter School at Heenat Salma is more than an academic program; it’s a meeting ground for global perspectives. Led by experts who bridge tradition and ecology, it fosters deep conversations on space, culture, and sustainability. I had the privilege of showcasing permaculture principles in action and engaging with brilliant architects passionate about ecological approaches rooted in cultural identity.

It was inspiring to exchange ideas with students and professionals from India, Pakistan, Libya, Syria, and Qatar—each bringing their own insights, each expanding the dialogue on how we can build with nature rather than against it.