Tamayouz Excellence Award is proud to announce the 2024 Women in Architecture and Construction Award winners, celebrating the exceptional contributions of women in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. As part of the broader Tamayouz Excellence Award programme, this prestigious recognition highlights leadership, innovation, and public service. The awards are divided into two categories: The Rising Star category, which honours emerging talents, and the Women of Outstanding Achievement category, which recognises established leaders making a significant and lasting impact in the field.
Winners of the 2024 Women in Architecture and Construction Award for the Near East and North Africa
Rising Star Category – Winner
Dr Hala Asslan
Architect and Academic, Syria
Jury Comment:
Dr. Hala Asslan is recognised for her exceptional work in heritage preservation, particularly in rehabilitating conflict-affected sites like Aleppo. Her extensive experience with international organisations such as the UN and ICOMOS and her strong profile position her as a key figure in architectural conservation. The jury is impressed by her dedication to preserving Syrian heritage and would love to see her expertise culminate in a comprehensive book or article on the rehabilitation of Syrian sites since 2011—a much-needed resource for the field.
Read our Meet Our Finalists interview to learn more about Dr. Hala Asslan.
Rising Star Category – Highly Commended
Lebriz Atan Karaatlı
Founder of KAAT ARCHITECTURE + URBAN, Türkiye
Lebriz Atan Karaatlı is celebrated for her deep understanding of context and culture, seamlessly blending modernity with local traditions in her work. As co-founder of KAAT Architecture + Urban, her designs are both aesthetically compelling and highly functional, showcasing her commitment to innovation and thoughtful design. The jury was particularly impressed by her innovative response to the Turkish earthquakes, where she created intelligent, simple emergency housing in an olive grove. Her small-scale, thoughtful solutions are rare today, reflecting her exceptional talent and dedication to advancing architecture. Lebriz is undoubtedly a rising star with a bright future ahead.
Read our Meet Our Finalists interview to learn more about Lebriz Atan Karaatlı.
Women of Outstanding Achievement – Winner
Hana Alamuddin
Principal of Almimariya Architects and Designers for Sustainable Development, Lebanon
Jury Comment:
Hana Alamuddin has made a significant impact on architecture through her unwavering commitment to sustainable design, cultural heritage preservation, and community-focused projects. With over 25 years of experience, her work exemplifies a deep respect for environmental sustainability and cultural identity, particularly in Lebanon’s post-war reconstruction. The jury is particularly impressed by her leadership and hands-on approach across all aspects of her practice, leading to thoughtful and impactful projects from residential design to urban planning. Her contributions, including the Peasant House Museum and social housing initiatives, reflect a strong sense of care for people and places. Hana’s distinguished career stands as a model of public service and meaningful architecture, marking her as a true leader and visionary.
Read our Meet Our Finalists interview to learn more about Hana Alamuddin.
Women of Outstanding Achievement – Highly Commended
Amal Abuelhawa
Jerusalem Old Cities Revitalization Program Manager, Palestine
Jury Comment:
Amal Abuelhawa is a leading figure in heritage conservation whose work has profoundly contributed to preserving Palestine’s historical identity. As the manager of the Jerusalem Old Cities Revitalization Program, she has overseen the restoration of key sites in Jerusalem and Nablus. Among her most notable achievements is the creation of the first-ever database for the Old City of Jerusalem, an invaluable tool for safeguarding its heritage. Despite the challenging conditions of Israeli occupation, Amal has set a high standard for conservation practices, ensuring that these historical structures remain vibrant parts of their communities. The jury commends her dedication to empowering local professionals and fostering community engagement through collaborative projects and technical training. Her nationally and internationally recognised career exemplifies resilience, innovation, and leadership in heritage preservation.
Read our Meet Our Finalists interview to learn more about Amal Abuelhawa.
The 2024 Tamayouz Women in Architecture and Construction Award jury of distinguished architecture, urban design, and heritage conservation professionals met to select the finalists and winners in the Women of Outstanding Achievement and Rising Star categories. The jury focused on identifying individuals who positively contributed to architecture and construction in the Near East and North Africa. While all nominees demonstrated remarkable strength and the ability to overcome unique challenges in their fields, the selected finalists stood out for balancing academic excellence and practical application.
The esteemed jury included:
Professor Jala Makhzoumi – Lebanon: President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects – Middle East Region; Adjunct Professor, American University of Beirut; Co-chair, Tamayouz Excellence Award Grand Jury 2022-25.
Professor Wendy Pullan – UK: Emeritus Professor of Architecture and Urban Studies; Director of the Centre for Urban Conflicts Research, University of Cambridge; Co-chair, Tamayouz Excellence Award Grand Jury 2022-25.
Nadia Habash – Palestine: Head of the Palestinian Engineering Association; Founder of Habash Consulting Engineers; Adjunct Professor, Birzeit University.
Dr Ebtissam Farid Moustapha – Egypt: Head of School of Design and Media, Coventry University UK (TKH branch, Cairo); Co-founder of ENCODE.
Dr Deyala Tarawneh – Jordan: Architect, urbanist, and Head of the Architecture Department, University of Jordan.
Ahmed Al-Mallak – UK: Founding Director of Tamayouz Excellence Award; Academic at Coventry University (Non-voting chair).
The founding director of Tamayouz Excellence Award and Coventry University academic, Ahmed Al-Mallak, said: “It has been truly inspiring to see the remarkable achievements of these women in both categories. Their work is transformative, advancing the field of architecture and making a real impact on their communities. The jury was impressed by the range of talent, from academics to practitioners, and it was a challenge to choose among them. We are proud to honour those who go beyond their professional duties to create meaningful, lasting change in the built environment and society.”
The Tamayouz Women in Architecture and Construction Award continues to build on its legacy of recognising exceptional talent. The last cycle’s winners include Iranian architect Yasaman Esmaili, who won Rising Star, and Lebanese-French architect Lina Ghotmeh, who won Women of Outstanding Achievements. Egyptian civil engineer Radwa Rostom was highly commended for the Rising Star category. More about the winners from 2020 can be found here.
Sponsors: The Tamayouz Excellence Award is sponsored by Coventry University, the Iraqi Business Council in Jordan, Kufa—Makiya Charity, Dewan Architects + Engineers, the Knowledge Hub Universities—Egypt, Bonair Ltd, the United Nations Global Compact—Iraq Network, and Round City Magazine.