KIAME holds a Master of Architecture [1996-Alba] and Urban Planning [1998-IUAlba] and currently manages his own studio where he deals with projects of various scales and types, promoting a multidisciplinary approach. BELIEF
Synergy between Territorial Planning, Urban Planning and Architecture constitutes to JWK a deep conviction as it holds the ultimate guarantee for successful and viable achievem
ents. While Planning has to treat the Territory with consideration, smaller acts such as building have to look for relevant ties with their nearby and faraway surroundings. Each project should therefore be subject to a comprehensive assessment, seeking for a contextual, flexible and sustainable solution. JWK's professional track is shaped by multiple and varied consultancy missions for both local and international Agencies and Institutions [Bahrain Eskan Bank, Parsons Brinckerhoff, General Directorate of Urban Planning-Lebanon, France Telecom, Atelier Drummond-Paris ...]. From 2005 till 2009, JWK partnered with the firm "ZAP Architects & Planners" over a series of significant projects among which Ibrahim Sursock Residential Tower. During that same partnership JWK was also the author of a City Hall Pedestrian Square idea in Beirut Central District along Weygand Street. In 2009, JWK was Head of Urban Planning and Architecture Department at “Eskan Properties”, a subsidiary of “Eskan Bank of Bahrain”, which offers a full range of property development services. JWK’s scope included feasibility studies, RFPs, projects briefs, planning and design guidelines, project management and coordination with design Consultants. In March 2011, JWK was appointed mission pilot within the group Team International / INDDIGO Altermodal invited to present a technical and financial proposal for the development of the "Soft Transportation Plan for Beirut City." JWK took part in the definition of the work methodology and the analytical presentation of the general geographical context of the intervention. In July 2012, JWK partnered with “Francois LECLERCQ Architectes Urbanistes” [France] to qualify for the consultancy services for the extension and renovation of the Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais campus in Beirut. In 2011 and 2012 JWK acted as the Chief Design Architect & Urban Planner for “Consolidated Consultants / Jafar Tukan Architects / Jordan” on two regional architectural and planning competitions: the Ministry of Tourism & Municipalities of Erbil/Iraq and the Royal Oman Police Stables Complex of Wattayah/Muscat Oman. After a first experience in the corporate world in 2001 when JWK designed the offices of France Telecom Mobile Liban [FTML], in 2014/15 he has been entrusted by the “Banque de l’Industrie et du Travail” to design several new retail branches in Beirut and other Lebanese Regions. JWK’s track is also marked by a broad academic experience; teaching since 2001 at the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-arts [ALBA] allowed him to maintain a continuously renewed vision related to career matters.
