The kingdom played host to the first ever Intelligent Building Middle East, (IBME) early this month at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.

Addressing the media prior to the event, Dr Werner Lang of Werner Lang Architect said: “What makes Intelligent Building Middle East 2005 unique is that it focuses on comfort-oriented building solutions that minimise the amount of energy consumed. 
“Oil is a valuable resource and should not be burnt just to cool buildings.  We aim to show what savings can be achieved using highly efficient buildings.  The exhibition and conference will highlight on innovative building and façade technology.”
Organised by the Bahrain Convention & Exhibition Bureau (BCEB) along with Nuernberg Global Fairs, Germany and Bahrain Society of Engineers (BSE), Bahrain, the trade show showcased innovative building solutions and state-of-the-art technologies.
“The exhibition also brought in the latest in building concepts, materials and technology offering world-class solutions and services,” says a spokesman for the organiser.
“This one of a kind exhibition will complement the booming construction activity and development in the Middle East as it aspires to meet the demands of the ever-growing construction industry. It has brought together the different facets of the construction industry- from machinery to materials, to buildings services and interior designs.”
The event also included conferences that focused on the future of intelligent building and trends.
The conference focused on the holistic concept of presenting building concepts, materials and technologies to: maximise the comfort, quality, value and performance of buildings in general; enable intelligent and cost-efficient planning, construction, maintenance and renovation of commercial industrial, residential and recreational buildings; optimise the facility management of building; maximise the use of renewable energies in particular in hot and humid climates and; minimise the use of fossil energy.