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Taher El Danaf
- Assistant Professor, Head of Interior Design
- Ext: 6105
Dr. Taher holds a Ph.D. in Art and Design from De Montfort University Leicester, specializing in open-office perceived collaboration. Additionally, he holds a Master of Science in Sustainable Design of the Built Environment, with a focus on indoor environmental quality. With over seven years of experience, he has developed expertise in indoor air quality. His background includes active involvement in various exhibitions, Lighting lab designs and executions, as well as installations for Ajman University and external projects. He has also mentored students for several local and international competitions, exhibitions, and conferences, including the Renewable Energy Competition 2019 at AURAK, UAE, and the Solar Decathlon Competition in Dubai 2018. Furthermore, he secured an internal research grant in collaboration with Denmark Technical University. This project focuses on measuring Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in schools, spanning Europe and the UAE, highlighting his dedication to advancing research and contributing valuable insights to the field.
Education
- Ph.D. in Art and Design. De Montfort University, Leicester-UK, 2023
- MSc. in Sustainable Design of the Built Environment, The British University in Dubai-UAE, 2013
- Bachelor in Interior Design, Ajman University, Ajman-UAE, 2008
Ph.D. in Art and Design. De Montfort University, Leicester-UK, 2023
MSc. in Sustainable Design of the Built Environment, The British University in Dubai-UAE, 2013
Bachelor in Interior Design, Ajman University, Ajman-UAE, 2008
Experience
- Head of the Interior Design Department, Ajman University 2020 - Present
- Lecturer, Department of Interior Design, Ajman University, since 2013. Teaching Assistant 2008-2013
- Interior Designer, Interior Design Dep., Clive Christian, Dubai-UAE, 2006-2008
- Site Engineer (Al-Yarmouk Décor-Sharjah) as a part time. Office and site work, including designing and site execution for all projects 2004-2006
- KARASI Students Textile Art Exhibition-Dubai Mall, organized by Ajman University 2012 (Participated in the installation and event setup).
- UAE National Day Event setup, design and execution, Ajman University 2017.
- UAE National Day Event setup, design and execution, Ajman University 2018.
- Communities Day, design, setup and execution, Ajman University 2018.
- Ajman University 2018 Global Day event design, setup and execution
- Students Club Fair design, setup and execution, Ajman University, 2018 & 2019.
- Mentoring students, Solar Decathlon competition, Dubai 2018.
- Students poster presentation, the “Renewable Energy Competition 2019”, organized by the Arab-German Young Academy of Science and Humanities and the American University of Ras Al Khaimah
- Lighting Lab setup and fit-out work Ajman University, 2019.
- Global Day event design, setup and execution, Ajman University 2019 & 2020
- Head of NASAD Accreditation Committee, Ajman University, UAE, 2021-2022
- Head of CIDA Accreditation Committee, Ajman University, UAE, 2023–present.
- Head of CAA Committee, Ajman University, UAE, 2020- Present
- Head of Annual Effectiveness Report committee, Ajman University, UAE, 2020- Present
- Engaged Participant in the Workshop for Formulating a Research Plan on Indoor Air Quality and Human Health in the UAE, in Collaboration with Abu Dhabi Public Health Authority (ADPHA) - 2023
- Head of the Curriculum and Development Committee, Ajman University, UAE, 2020 - Present
Head of the Interior Design Department, Ajman University 2020 - Present
Lecturer, Department of Interior Design, Ajman University, since 2013. Teaching Assistant 2008-2013
Interior Designer, Interior Design Dep., Clive Christian, Dubai-UAE, 2006-2008
Site Engineer (Al-Yarmouk Décor-Sharjah) as a part time. Office and site work, including designing and site execution for all projects 2004-2006
KARASI Students Textile Art Exhibition-Dubai Mall, organized by Ajman University 2012 (Participated in the installation and event setup).
UAE National Day Event setup, design and execution, Ajman University 2017.
UAE National Day Event setup, design and execution, Ajman University 2018.
Communities Day, design, setup and execution, Ajman University 2018.
Ajman University 2018 Global Day event design, setup and execution
Students Club Fair design, setup and execution, Ajman University, 2018 & 2019.
Mentoring students, Solar Decathlon competition, Dubai 2018.
Students poster presentation, the “Renewable Energy Competition 2019”, organized by the Arab-German Young Academy of Science and Humanities and the American University of Ras Al Khaimah
Lighting Lab setup and fit-out work Ajman University, 2019.
Global Day event design, setup and execution, Ajman University 2019 & 2020
Head of NASAD Accreditation Committee, Ajman University, UAE, 2021-2022
Head of CIDA Accreditation Committee, Ajman University, UAE, 2023–present.
Head of CAA Committee, Ajman University, UAE, 2020- Present
Head of Annual Effectiveness Report committee, Ajman University, UAE, 2020- Present
Engaged Participant in the Workshop for Formulating a Research Plan on Indoor Air Quality and Human Health in the UAE, in Collaboration with Abu Dhabi Public Health Authority (ADPHA) - 2023
Head of the Curriculum and Development Committee, Ajman University, UAE, 2020 - Present
Teaching Area
- Interior Design Studio I (Residential Villa)
- Interior Design Studio II (Retail Design)
- Interior Design Studio III (offices)
- Sustainability in Interior Design: Developing the course and encouraging student participation in conference poster presentations.
- Working Drawing I & II
- Lighting & Acoustics course for ID
- Graduation Project II
Interior Design Studio I (Residential Villa)
Interior Design Studio II (Retail Design)
Interior Design Studio III (offices)
Sustainability in Interior Design: Developing the course and encouraging student participation in conference poster presentations.
Working Drawing I & II
Lighting & Acoustics course for ID
Graduation Project II
Research
- Building Skin and materials performance in residential projects
- Indoor Human Comfort & Natural Lighting
- Open plan offices, level of perceived collaboration
Building Skin and materials performance in residential projects
Indoor Human Comfort & Natural Lighting
Open plan offices, level of perceived collaboration
Publications
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THE FLOATING HOUSE, SKINS & SPACES DUBAI (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES) – PALM JUMEIRAH, IJEAS, True scholar
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JournalIrene Pasina, Emanuela Corti, Taher Eldanaf, Dalal Abdullah, Empowering the next generation of women in interior design in the United Arab Emirates through competitive education: a curriculum review, Journal of Architectural Research, Jan 2024, doi: DOI 10.1108/ARCH-09-2023-0256
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JournalAyman Kassem Jihad Awad Taher Eldanaf, From Museumification to Performativization. A Performative Approach to Heritage Reuse. Cases from the United Arab Emirates, Future Cities and Environment, Mar 2024, doi: 10.5334/fce.228
THE FLOATING HOUSE, SKINS & SPACES DUBAI (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES) – PALM JUMEIRAH, IJEAS, True scholar
Irene Pasina, Emanuela Corti, Taher Eldanaf, Dalal Abdullah, Empowering the next generation of women in interior design in the United Arab Emirates through competitive education: a curriculum review, Journal of Architectural Research, Jan 2024, doi: DOI 10.1108/ARCH-09-2023-0256
This paper explores the impact of interior design education and its effectiveness in the work environment for women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as they are the primary recipients of interior design programs. The analysis focuses on the role of women in interior design in the Gulf countries and the update of an interior design program curriculum as part of the continuous development program requested by the UAE Commission of Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the national Ministry of Education (MoE).
About the journal
Ayman Kassem Jihad Awad Taher Eldanaf, From Museumification to Performativization. A Performative Approach to Heritage Reuse. Cases from the United Arab Emirates, Future Cities and Environment, Mar 2024, doi: 10.5334/fce.228
The notions of Performance and Performative are emerging in architectural design discourses including heritage processing and repurposing. The literature review shows that the terms are semantically wide and they are linked to a variety of concepts: the open form, the flexible, the dynamic, the event—based spatial settings and the active engagement with space. The essay examines how – beyond museumification -the activation and the reuse of heritage sites can be seen through the lens of Performance and the concept of the Performative, and the difference between passive engagement and active engagement. The essay has three folds aims unfolding as follow: The first explores a literature review analysis of Performative and Performance in architectural discourse, arriving to explore those concepts in the discourses of reuse of historical heritage sites as exhibitions performative venues. The second examines a proposed performative-oriented approach to the reuse of heritage sites which aims at a dynamic and active engagement with the space, opposing to museumification which usually leads to passive engagement while taking examples from Europe. The third one will be centered on the case of the old heart of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates as a heritage site reinvented and inhabited by the Sharjah Art Foundation, which we will analyze through the lens of the Performative and the practice of Exhibiting.
About the journal
Conference Presentation
- Sensory Pollution from Treated Wood Panels on Perceived Air Quality and Human Comfort, SB – 13 Conference December 8 -10, 2013
- Seminar Speaker at the Big 5 Show 2013, Dubai. Paper name: Adapting to climate change with floating houses,
- THE ELEMENTS OF NATURAL CONCEPT IN SUSTAINABLE BUILDING SKINS by: Taher Salah, Omnia Mohamed, And Akram Azmy Conference name: EURO-MED-SEC-2: The Second European and Mediterranean Structural Engineering and Construction Conference
- ACHIEVING THE OPTIMAL SUSTAINABLE LIGHTING CONCEPT (PROPOSAL FOR SOLAR DECATHLON MIDDLE EAST 2018-2020). Conference name: 11th annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation
- THE ROLE OF THE INTERIOR DESIGN TO PLAN A HAPPY HOME WITH A LOW BUDGET – SHEIKH ZAYED HOUSING PROGRAMME (AJMAN). Conference name: 10th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies
Sensory Pollution from Treated Wood Panels on Perceived Air Quality and Human Comfort, SB – 13 Conference December 8 -10, 2013
Seminar Speaker at the Big 5 Show 2013, Dubai. Paper name: Adapting to climate change with floating houses,
THE ELEMENTS OF NATURAL CONCEPT IN SUSTAINABLE BUILDING SKINS by: Taher Salah, Omnia Mohamed, And Akram Azmy Conference name: EURO-MED-SEC-2: The Second European and Mediterranean Structural Engineering and Construction Conference
ACHIEVING THE OPTIMAL SUSTAINABLE LIGHTING CONCEPT (PROPOSAL FOR SOLAR DECATHLON MIDDLE EAST 2018-2020). Conference name: 11th annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation
THE ROLE OF THE INTERIOR DESIGN TO PLAN A HAPPY HOME WITH A LOW BUDGET – SHEIKH ZAYED HOUSING PROGRAMME (AJMAN). Conference name: 10th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies
Memberships, Awards and Honors
- Member of APID
- Awards of Hotel International Conference/Dubai 2006
- Honors, Five Star Hotel Competition – Ajman University, 2007
- Solar Decathlon 2016, Submitting Preliminary proposal (Team Leader, Indoor Environment)
- VMODERN Magazine (Library Chair, 21 NOV. 2015) – Participation
- Supervisor in Students Affair Events, Design and Specifications (National Day and Global Day, 2017-2019)
- Supervisor in Students Affair Events, Design and Specifications (Global Day, 2017-2019)
- Supervisor in Students Affair Events, Design and Specifications (Club Fair, 2017-2019)