YU -AlKhobar

Dr. Mayas Ahmad Taha

Assistant Professor of Architecture

Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (COEA), Department of Architecture and Interior Architecture (AIA), with a specialization in architectural design, heritage conservation, and urban design. She obtained her Ph.D. in architecture from the University of Damascus in 2017, where her research focused on the intersection of architectural and urban heritage preservation and urban development in historic cities. Damascus as a case study. MSC in Architecture, awarded in 2012, about the transitional zones surrounding heritage centers. Her research interests include architectural design, heritage conservation, urban design, landscape design, and urban planning. Before joining Al-Yamamah University, Dr. Mayas's academic career began at the University of Damascus in 2009, at AL-Yarmouk Private University, and AL-Etihad Private University, where she taught architecture design courses in landscape and site planning, architectural conservation, and the history of architecture. She also served in administrative positions at Damascus University; she supervised many projects at the university; and she was involved in organizing and leading many workshops and activities.
Currently, Dr. Mayas Ahmad Taha holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Architecture Department at Al-Yamamah University, Riyadh, KSA, where she continues to pursue her passion for educating future generations of architects.

During her work at Al-Yamamah University, she taught many architectural design courses and urban design courses, during her time there, she has authored numerous research papers and articles published in prestigious journals and conferences, focused on urban heritage conservation, urban design developments, and residential building.

Areas of Expertise

  • Architectural Design
  • Urban Design
  • Heritage Conservation

- Mayas.N.Ahmad Taha, Journal of Architecture and Planning, “An Overview of Factors Influencing Formation Transformations of Residential Building Facades in Riyadh”. VOL.35, NO.4, 04 Dec 2023.
doi:10.33948/JAP-KSU-35-4-4 https://jap.ksu.edu.sa/sites/jap.ksu.edu.sa/files/users/user450/Vol-35-4_2023-Dec/En01.pdf
https://jap.ksu.edu.sa/ar/Vol_35-4

- Mayas.N.Ahmad Taha & Dalia A. Abdelfattah ( HBRC Journal), “Branding heritage in multi-cultural societies, with special references to preservation discourses”.Published online: 06 Nov 2023, publisher: Taylor &Francis, VOL. 19, NO. 1, 337–354, https://doi.org/10.1080/16874048.2023.2272076

- Mayas.N.Ahmad Taha. Conservation of Architectural Heritage, Conference proceeding, "Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Armed Conflicts in the Arab World", pp 181-197, 01 January 2022, publisher: Springer, the Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation book series (ASTI),
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-74482-3_15

- Mayas.N.Ahmad Taha. Arab Journal of Science and Research Publishing (AJSRP), “The advantages and disadvantages of online architecture teaching compared to traditional teaching, according to the perspective of professors in colleges of architecture in private universities in Riyadh”. the second issue, fifth volume, 30-6-2021.
DOI: 10.26389/AJSRP.M250121

- Mayas.N.Ahmad Taha. Electronic Interdisciplinary Miscellaneous Journal, EIMJ, “Standards for open-spaces landscape design in residential neighborhoods with hot and dry context”, the (30th) issue, 2020.
(PDF) Standards for open-space landscape design in residential neighborhoods with hot and dry context (researchgate.net)

- Mayas.N.Ahmad Taha, Yassar Abdeen,and Tammam Fakouch, Aleppo University Journal of Engineering Sciences,” Standards and mechanisms for urban and architectural heritage documentation reality of heritage documentation in Syria: a case study “the (17th) issue, 11.4.2016.
(PDF) Standards and mechanisms for urban and architectural heritage documentation The reality of heritage documentation in Syria: a case study (researchgate.net).

- Mayas.N.Ahmad Taha, Yassar Abdeen,and Tammam Fakouch. Damascus University Journal of Engineering Sciences,” Classification system of registered buildings on National Heritage List. Analyzing the British situation and projecting it onto the Syrian situation” the (2nd) issue, VOL.32. 2016
(PDF) Classification system of registered buildings on National Heritage List Analyzing the British situation and projecting it onto the Syrian situation (researchgate.net)

-Mayas.N.Ahmad Taha, Yassar Abdeen, and Tammam Fakouch, Aleppo University Journal of Engineering Sciences, “The protection of the built cultural heritage in armed conflict situations- cases The Syrian World Heritage-listed sites during the crisis as a case study" the (16th) issue, 03.02. 2016.

- Mayas.N.Ahmad Taha, Baghdad University, Journal of Studies in History and Heritage, "Study on the methodology used for the certification of cultural property in the World Heritage List" 19.7.2016.

- Mayas.N.Ahmad Taha, Alaa El-Din Loulah, Muwafaq Daghman, Aleppo University Journal of Engineering Sciences, “The Architecture of Transitional Areas in Syria Reality - Problems – Solutions Damascus - Aleppo Model” (1st) issue. 22.12.2012.

In progress Research work:
- Working on two research papers in the field of urban design
- Working on a conference paper in the field of heritage preservation

- AL- Yammamah university, YUGEN conference, "The landscape elements of university buildings in Saudi Arabia, and its impact to provide a suitable environment for its users", research paper, 2019.
- Conservation of Architectural Heritage (CAH) 4th Edition, Egypt, 31-Jan to 3Feb, by research paper "Legal mechanisms for the conservation of architectural heritage in situations of armed conflict, and the assessment of their compliance in certain World Heritage sites in the Arab world"

Attended workshops:
- Workshop on design thinking workshop, Al-Yammah University.
- Workshop on You 2.0 How to Upgrade for an Uncertain Future Workshop, Al-Yammah University.
- Workshop on Writing CLOs in line with PLOs, Al-Yammah University.
- Workshop on CLOs Assessment and Analysis, Al-Yammah University.
- Workshop on training on the software tool SPSS, Al-Yammah University.
- Workshop on Basic SBC 201, IBC and NFPA101 Application in Architectural design –Space planning, Al-Yammah University.
- Workshop on Fundamentals of Passive fire protection – Fire stopping system, Al-Yammah University.

Currently Teaching

  • ARC511 Graduation project
  • IARA425 Landscape design (Elective course)

Undergraduate Teaching

Architecture department

  • Graduation project
  • ARC 401: Architectural Design V
  • ARC 411: Architectural Design VI
  • ARC402: Landscape and Site planning
  • ARC 403: Working drawings1
  • ARC 413: Working drawing 2
  • ARCA 425: Architecture Conservation. (Elective course)
  • ARC 203: History of Architecture I.
  • ARC213: History of Architecture II.

Interior Architecture

  • IAR 404: Detailing and Specifications and Codes
  • IAR 414: Conservation, Preservation, Renovation, and Restoration
  • IAR 401-Interior Arch Working Drawings -2

Practical experience
- Between (2020-2022): Landscape design projects in KAFD, and other landscape design projects for private homes, preparing a site plan and landscape design, for the external spaces, by discussing with clients, engineers, and then preparing site plans, specifications tables, and cost estimates, after Analyzing the environmental conditions, (KAFD project –zone 5.06) to choose the main finishing material for the site paving, and the suitable landscape features.
- Between (2018-2020): Architecture design for many residential buildings, private villas, and many industrial units in al-Shaikh Najar industrial city in Syria, Aleppo, and Supervising the implementation of these projects.
- Architecture design for other projects in Saudi Arabia with "Al Turath Engineering Consulting Office"
- Urban design project: traditional Souq in Jeddah, (the entrance to Jeddah, from Mecca)
- Medical center (dental clinics) in AL- Medina
- Between (2013-2018) : Architectural Design and interior design projects on the campus of Damascus University, redesign many offices in many colleges there supervised by Central Affairs Engineering. reviewing architectural plans, sections, elevations, of many administration buildings in Damascus university campus, and tables of specifications, sketches, and ideas on developing interior and landscape designs, as being the chair of the Design Study committee at Central Affairs Engineering.
- Between (2007-2012): Assistant teacher in Aleppo & Damascus university, & architect in Department of Affairs Engineering / Faculty of Fine Arts/ Aleppo university& Central Affairs Engineering / Damascus University, Supervising several projects and constructions on the university campus.

Organizing committee
- Technical Program Committee of the ICCEA'22 conference, which will be held in in Hanoi, Vietnam on December 16-18, 2022, co-sponsored by Vietnam Institute of Building Materials, technical supported by Innovation Centre for Engineering Education at Seoul National University.
- Member of examination committee, College of Architecture, Al-Yammah University (2019-2020)
- Member of research committee, College of Architecture, Al-Yammah University (2018-2020)
- Member of transfer committee, College of Architecture, Al-Yammah University (208-2020)
- Member of graduation committee, College of Architecture, Al-Yammah University (2019-2020)
- Member of develop the annual program committee, Arch. Coordinator, College of Architecture, Al-Yammah University (2018-2019)
- Chair of Practical exams moderation committee, College of Architecture,
Al-Yammah University (2018-2019)
- Member of Permanent Engineering committee, College of Architecture, Al-Yammah University (2018-2020)
- Member of grade appeal committee, College of Architecture, Al-Yammah University (2018-2020)
- Member of graduation committee, College of Architecture,
Al-Yarmouk University (2014-2017)
- Member of Student Training Program, College of Architecture,
Damascus University (2014-2017)

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