An inspiring movement to focus the minds of young architects and designers on confronting global issues, such as climate change, regional conflicts, forced displacement, big data and technology is gaining momentum, with the help of leading Hong Kong-based urban designer and academic, Dr. Sujata Govada.

From humble beginnings as a localised workshop in Latvia nearly 20 years ago, the RHEA International Workshops are now engaging students and young practitioners in Europe, Hong Kong, India and the US through a biannual program of virtual international workshops.

Sujata says the aim is to provide the next generation of leaders with the necessary skills to formulate “resilient, human-centric and sustainable solutions to the regeneration of cities”. The insights, ideas and solutions that emerge from this worldwide collaboration, she says, will be displayed and shared on RHEA’s online platform.

RHEA International is funded primarily by sponsorships and memberships of universities and institutions, which in turn encourage the participation of their students and faculty in the workshops. Sujata and her fellow program leaders, US-based Garth Rockcastle and Latvia-based Sergejs Nikiforovs are leveraging their networks to get more universities and institutions on board. The RHEA team also includes a group of young emerging professionals, the leaders of tomorrow.

A highly regarded figure in the local architecture and design community, Sujata (above) is a thought leader and judge of the PERSPECTIVE A&D Awards. She is also a Founding Director of the Institute for Sustainable Urbanisation (ISU), which is a supporting organisation of the A&D Awards.

The upcoming Fall virtual RHEA International Workshop is scheduled from September 14 to 21, followed by the Spring Workshop from February 15 to 22, 2025. RHEA will bring together subject matter experts, young professionals and students to focus on socio-economic and environmental solutions to the following key themes:

• Climate Change and Resiliency – Analyzing the impacts of rising sea levels, extreme weather events and infrastructure damage with a focus on context sensitive waterfront planning, brownfield and greenfield development and disaster risk management.
• War and Conflict Situations – Examining urban warfare destruction, other conflict situations impacting citizen livelihood with a focus on adaptive reuse of industrial and cultural heritage buildings, urban hazard mitigation and alleviation of key infrastructure vulnerability.
• Migration and Forced Displacement – Addressing dynamics of urban transformation, migration and social equity issues with a focus on sustainable development strategies for accessibility, mobility and affordable housing, feasibility and sustainability of temporary housing.
• Technology and Big Data – Addressing the impact of AI, technology and big data on the development of smart and sustainable cities that are walkable, liveable, equitable, productive, healthy and happy.

Sujata says the workshops provide a unique environment for experts, faculty, young professionals and students across different time zones to horizontally collaborate on pressing issues beyond the week-long program on a continuous basis. “By incorporating cutting-edge technologies, they facilitate cooperation, design thinking, meaningful interventions and impactful presentations.”

The workshop will focus on two distinctive sites in diverse contexts: Kherson Riverfront, Ukraine and Hong Kong Harbourfront, Hong Kong. To ensure focused and productive conversations, participants are expected to review briefing material provided and be familiar with the topics discussed and actively interested in the above-mentioned issues. Sujata says RHEA is dedicated to fostering equity and inclusion and warmly welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.

Sujata is the CEO of UDP International, an award-winning boutique design and planning firm based in Hong Kong since 1994. She is a former Adjunct Faculty at the School of Architecture, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and DUPAD, the University of Hong Kong.

Any universities or institutions interested in joining the RHEA International Workshops are encouraged to reach out to the Program Manager, Sidhards Janis Libers at (sjlibers@gmail.com) for further information.