MEAL*, a sister online initiative of MEAN*, has announced the second edition of "Live Academy" - a Virtual Design Learning Program, bringing together the brightest minds in architecture and design from around the world, to meet and exchange their ideas of the future. 

The first edition of learning program was held between May and June, 2020. 

Dubai-based architect, entrepreneur and researcher Riyad Joucka, Founder of MEAN*, is now running the second series for the Live Academy, focusing on emerging trends in technology and design, both in academia and in practice.

Chris Precht, co-founder of Studio Precht, will give a lecture on July 7, 2020.

The new edition will start on Tuesday, June 7 and continue until Thursday, July 30, 2020 with new lectures and online classes. 

Semester 2 will include Chris Precht, Nervous System from MIT, Philippe Block from Block Research Group, ITA ETH Zürich, Reiser + Umemoto of RUR Architecture DPC and online classes by Chantal Matar from Zaha Hadid Architects, Alessandro Zomparelli from Co-de-iT, Oliver Thomas from Bjarke Ingels Group, Vincenzo Reale from ARUP and more... 

See the whole program on Live Academy's website. Lectures will be LIVE over 1 hour and are free of charge and can be watched on MEAL*'s Youtube channel. 

Classes be LIVE over 4 hours with questions. Class recordings will be offered to registered students only and will be available for 1 month.

Alessandro Zomparelli from Co-de-iT will deliver an online class on July 9, 2020.

"New adaptations to work, education, and knowledge exchange have rapidly emerged over the past few months and have become part of our 'new normal'," stated Riyad Joucka, Founder of MEAN* and MEAL*. 

MEAL* (Middle East Architecture Lab) has seized this moment and developed 'Live Academy' to bring together the brightest minds in architecture and design from around the world, to meet and exchange their ideas of the future. 

Live Academy is held as an online project. The program focuses on democratizing global access to revolutionary design concepts and technical expertise.

Nervous System from MIT will give a lecture on July 12, 2020.

In its second edition, Semester 2 takes place over 4 weeks. Every week, architects with outstanding innovative work will present their projects in an online lecture for 1 hour. The lectures are open to all, followed by live questions from the audience.

Two classes by global experts focused on different computational design software will follow every week in the format of a live webinar over 4 hours. 

Mariana Cabugueira from Zaha Hadid Architects and Architectural Association School of Architecture will give an online class on July 15, 2020.

Aimed at democratizing the use of technology in design, MEAL* (Middle East Architecture Laboratory) is a research repository of emergent technologies in design and was established as an open-source nomadic platform enabling architects, designers, and students by providing access to cutting edge, hands-on technical research through design and build projects.

Reiser + Umemoto of RUR Architecture DPC will deliver a lecture on July 26, 2020.

All sessions will be moderated by Riyad Joucka, Founder of MEAN*.

MEAN*, founded by architect, entrepreneur and researcher Riyad Joucka, is known for its use of cutting edge computational design processes and digital fabrication tools to leverage the quality of architectural solutions.

See the whole program on Live Academy website.

Watch Live Lecture on MEAL*'s Youtube channel. 

All images courtesy of MEAL*

> via MEAL*