Tamayouz Excellence Award, one of the most recognised architecture awards in the Middle East, recently held its annual ceremony in Amman, Jordan, where architects from across the world gathered to celebrate the organisation’s most active and far-reaching programme to date.
Established in 2012 by Iraqi architect and Coventry University academic Ahmed Al-Mallak, Tamayouz Excellence Award, which is unaffiliated with any organisation or government entity, is the first architecture awards programme to emerge from Iraq. And in the seven years since its launch, it has grown both externally and internally.
Externally, the awards’ 2019 cycle attracted far-reaching international participation, with architects from Mexico to Egypt, Estonia to Indonesia participating. Submissions across the seven prizes totalled 908 submissions, representing 64 countries and 171 universities. Tamayouz also curated several public events during 2019, including public talks in Egypt, Jordan and the UK; a workshop in Jordan and university tours across the Middle East, South East Asia and Europe.
Internally, too, the award’s team continues to expand its network of regional and international academics and architects. While the jury panel, which was once chaired by Dame Zaha Hadid, numbered at 12 judges in 2012, today, it sits at 88 judges, who come from countries such as the Netherlands, England, Spain, Iraq, Jordan, the UAE, Lebanon and others to participate in the shortlisting jury panels and the winners selection jury panels.
The overall growth of the awards programme indicates that not only has Tamayouz been successful at promoting architecture from and for the Middle East, but that its mission resonates with individuals of different backgrounds across the world.
“The awards programme was built on the idea of supporting young Iraqi architects, promoting their work and recognising students, professionals and academics from across the country. Our hope was to spread awareness of their important achievements to the rest of the Middle East and world,” said Al-Mallak. “Since then, Tamayouz has grown into an international awards programme with established companies and architectural bureaus now participating (not just young graduates), and we have seen ever-maturing participation across the programme, from the Rifat Chadirji Prize to the Dewan Award.”
Submissions across the seven prizes totalled 908 submissions, representing 64 countries and 171 universities in 2019.
The programme’s seven prizes are Tamayouz Iraqi Graduation Projects Award, Tamayouz Award for International Graduation Projects, Women in Architecture and Construction Award, Middle Eastern Architectural Personality of the Year – Mohamed Makiya Prize, the Rifat Chadirji Prize, the Dewan Award for Architecture and the Lifetime Achievement Award. The student awards also recognise supervisors and universities.
This year also saw the special recognition of the Changing Lives Program, an initiative between Dr Majid AlSaadi and selected global universities to provide university students with a global cross-cultural experience. In 2018, special recognition was given to the Abdul Latif Al-Jiblawi House in Alsamawa, Iraq for being an exemplary rehabilitation and documentation project of a traditional house.
The ceremony, which was held at Amman’s Le Royal Hotel, welcomed hundreds of architects and academics including some of the Middle East’s most influential architects, artists, diplomats and public figures, such as Dr Rasem Badran, Dia Azzawi, Maath Alousi, Sultan Al Qassemi, and many others. During the event, young architectural graduates merged with established greats of contemporary Middle East architecture as well as academics, exchanging knowledge, discussing architectural solutions to pressing urban challenges in the region, and celebrating the exceptional ideas championed by the awards this year.
Below is a recap of the winners for each prize, with links to more information about each participant and entry throughout and at the end of this article.
Recap: The Winners
Tamayouz Iraqi Graduation Projects
The Tamayouz Iraqi Students Graduation Projects, which aims at discovering, supporting and honouring outstanding architecture students from Iraq, awarded and commended 10 Iraqi graduates from several universities this year.
First place winner: Saad Raad Algburi from Al Nahrain University won first place for his project ‘Interactive Architectural Center’. He accepted his award alongside his supervisor Dia Hameed Basi, who was an honourable mention of the Hisham Munir Award for Iraqi Supervisor of the Year. Algburi’s prize is an MSc scholarship to Coventry University, medal and certificate.
Joint second place winner: Mustafa Jamal from Uruk University won joint second place for his project ‘Restoration of Al-Bab Al-Wastani Area’. His prize is three-month employment (complete with competitive salary and accommodation) at Dewan’s Dubai office, as well as a medal and certificate.
Joint second place winner: Sarah Al-Saadi from Baghdad University won joint second place for her project ‘Renewal of Dawasa Street’. Her prize is three-month employment (complete with competitive salary and accommodation) at Dewan’s Dubai office, as well as a medal and certificate.
Third place winner: Mustafa Aziz Al-Abade from Mosul University won third place for his cultural project in Mosul. He accepted his award alongside his supervisor, Dr Hatem Al-Jumaile, who was an honourable mention of the Hisham Munir Award for Iraqi Supervisor of the Year. Al-Abade’s prize is three-month employment (complete with competitive salary and accommodation) also at Dewan’s Dubai office, as well as a medal and certificate.
The ceremony also welcomed several honourable mentions for the Iraqi Graduation Projects Award, including:
- Abdulqadir Qadri from German Jordanian University, who was recognised for his project ‘Madaba Archaeological Park’. Qadri accepted his certificate alongside his supervisor, Leen Fakhouri, who was an honourable mention for the Hisham Munir Award for Iraqi Supervisor of the Year.
- Dyako Hiwa Ali from Cihan University / Sulaimaniya for his project ‘Sustainable Tourism Complex in Azmar’. He accepted his certificate alongside his supervisor Karzan Jala Sadoon, who was an honourable mention of the Hisham Munir Prize for Iraqi Supervisor of the Year.
- Lara Dler from the University of Salahaddin for her project ‘Centre for Cerebral Palsy’.
- Sanarya Salar from Cihan University / Sulaimaniya for her project ‘Kurdish Folklore Craft Center’. Salar accepted her award alongside her supervisor Dr Nahith Taha Al-Qemaqchi, who was an honourable mention for the Hisham Munir Award for Iraqi Supervisor of the Year.
The Hisham Munir Award went to Dr Sajida Kathum Al-Kurdi from the University of Baghdad for her supervision and support to the second prize winner and an honourable mention. While the Iraqi Architecture School of the Year went to Al-Nahrain University, which is responsible for the first place winner and two shortlisted entries. This award was accepted by Dia Hameed Basi.
Tamayouz Award for International Graduation Projects
The Tamayouz International Graduation Projects Award, which aims at rewarding, supporting and honouring architecture students from across the world, awarded and commended 13 graduates from various global institutions.
First place winner: Lesia Topolnyk from Amsterdam Academy of Architecture in The Netherlands won for her project ‘Un-United Nations Headquarters’. Her prize is an MSc scholarship to the Polytechnic University of Milan, as well as a medal and certificate
Second place winner: Jacopo Donato and Caterina Giacomello from Polytechnic University of Turin and University of Turin in Italy, who won for their project ‘Building Peace in Mosul’. They received a travel grant of $1500, as well as medals and certificates.
The ceremony also welcomed several honourable mentions for the Iraqi Graduation Projects Award, including:
- Ruddy Abu Zeid from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in Lebanon who was recognised for his museum project in Budapest.
- Zahiyah Alraddadi from Effat University in Saudi Arabia, who was recognised for her open-air museum project. Her certificate was accepted by her supervisor Dr Mohammad Fekry, who was an honourable mention of International Supervisor of the Year.
- Jumanah Rizk and Basil Al-Tahir from the American University of Sharjah in the UAE, who were recognised for their project ‘Agritourism Resort in Marrakech’.
- Aqel Abueladas from German Jordanian University in Jordan, who was recognised for his project ‘Archaeological Research & Awareness’. He accepted his certificate alongside his supervisor Mohammed Khaled.
- Mariam Abbadi from the Applied Science University in Jordan, who was recognised for her project ‘The pathways to unknown: experience space, heritage, and archaeology’. She accepted her certificate alongside her supervisor Majida Yakhlef, who was an honourable mention of the International Supervisor of the Year Award.
Tamayouz Award for International Graduation Projects also recognised the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture as the Tamayouz International School of the Year, which was accepted by the prize’s first-place winner Lesia Topolnyk.
Middle Eastern Architectural Personality of the Year – Mohamed Makiya Prize
The Architectural Personality of the Year, also known as the Mohamed Makiya Prize, is an annual award presented to either a person, institution or organisation that has made the greatest contribution to the advancement of architecture in a specific period.
This year, the winner was the International Journal of Islamic Architecture from the US. The award was accepted by the journal’s founding editor Mohammad Gharipour and managing editor Kıvanç Kılınç.
Two honourable mentions from this year’s Mohamed Makiya Prize were also presented with their certificates at the ceremony, including:
- Waleed Arafa from Egypt.
- World Monuments Fund Britain from the UK.
Tamayouz Award for Women in Architecture and Construction
The first and only of its kind in the Middle East and second in the world, Tamayouz’s award for women in architecture is given to women who have contributed to the fields of architecture and construction throughout the Near East and North Africa, and it consists of two categories: Woman of Outstanding Achievement and Rising Star. This year presented two winners and one highly commended.
Rising Star: This year’s Rising Star is Saudi architect and co-founder of Watad Studio, Dana AlAmry.
Woman of Achievement: This prize was won by Turkish architecture historian and academic Dr Zeynep Celik, who was unable to attend the ceremony. Egyptian architect Shahira Fahmy was presented with a highly commended distinction.
Three honourable mentions from the Women in Architecture and Construction Award 2019 received their certificates during the ceremony, as well, including:
- Dr Deena Al-Mahdy from Egypt, who was an honourable mention in the Rising Star category.
- Habibeh Madjdabadi from Iran, who was an honourable mention in the Woman of Outstanding Achievement category.
- Sumaya Dabbagh from the UAE/KSA, who was an honourable mention in the Woman of Outstanding Achievement category.
Rifat Chadirji Prize
The Rifat Chadirji Prize was launched in 2017 on the 90th birthday of renowned Iraqi architect and academic Rifat Chadirji, after which it is named. The prize is a thematic open prize that focuses on local challenges in the Middle East. This prize is open to international participants, inviting all architects to submit their designs and establish an uncompromising open source of ideas tackling social issues in the region. This year, the award was held in partnership with Barjeel Art Foundation from the UAE and prompted participants to design a museum for modern Arab art in the emirate of Sharjah.
First place winner: Aidia Studio from Mexico won first place, and the award was accepted by the practice’s co-founder Rolando Rodriguez Leal. The prize is a statuette designed by celebrated Iraqi artist Dia Azzawi.
Second place winner: Solid from Egypt won second place, and the award was received by Sameh Zayed on behalf of his team member Nader Moro. The prize is $1000, which was sponsored by BIMLab.
People’s Choice Award: Cell Studio from Egypt took the People’s Choice Award, which was received by Sama Abdelkarim, Mohamed Samy Saeed, Mohamed Ibrahim Sarhan and Tarek Ali. The prize is a $500 cash prize.
The award also welcomed several honourable mentions from this year’s cycle, including:
- 2 X 1 Architects from Turkey.
- Habibeh Madjdabadi from Iran.
- Mahmoud Amgad, who received the certificate on behalf of his team members Omar Ibrahim, Mohamed Abdelaziz and Ahmed Zaki from Egypt.
Dewan Award for Architecture
The newest award to join the Tamayouz programme is the Dewan Award for Architecture, which was created in 2018 in partnership with Dewan Architects + Engineers. For its second cycle, the competition asked participants to design a regeneration proposal for Baghdad’s Al Umma Park.
First place winner: Tha’er Qub’a Consultant Architects from Jordan, who won a $6000 cash prize, as well as a certificate.
Second place winner: 2 X 1 Architects from Turkey, who received a $3000 cash prize, as well as a certificate.
Third place winner: Marcin Kitala from Poland, who received a $1000 cash prize, as well as a certificate.
Three honourable mentions for the Dewan Award 2019 were present to receive their certificates, including:
- Hamdy Hefnawy from Egypt, who received the certificate on behalf of his team members Mennatullah Ezzat and Ahmed Sayed Mostafa Abdelgafar.
- Hebah Qatanany from the UAE.
- Della Gondola from Estonia, received by Sulev Nurme on behalf of his team members Sten Juur and Anna Belova.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The most coveted award of the evening, the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was originally presented to pioneers of Iraqi architecture, but which was opened to the rest of the Middle East in 2019, was given to Palestinian-Jordanian architect Dr Rasem Badran. The previous winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award are Dr Mohamed Makiya, Dr Rifat Chadirji, Dr Qahtan Al-Madfai, Dr Hisham Munir and Maath Alousi.
In the director’s closing remarks, the ceremony was dedicated to Safaa Alsaray and the innocent demonstrators who lost their lives in the October uprising in Iraq.
Please find more information about the winners of the 2019 Tamayouz Excellence Award cycle in the below links:
Iraqi Students Graduation Projects
https://bit.ly/34elOgE
International Students Graduation Projects
https://bit.ly/2PaPpmS
Women in Architecture and Construction
https://bit.ly/2YzhCXv
Middle Eastern Architectural Personality of the Year – Mohamed Makiya Prize
https://bit.ly/2PABiWT
Rifat Chadirji Prize
https://bit.ly/36lXR8n
Dewan Award for Architecture
https://bit.ly/38moMCN
Lifetime Achievement Award
https://bit.ly/2P6Z9OU
The Tamayouz Excellence Award would like to share its gratitude to its sponsors: Coventry University, Iraqi Business Council, Makiya – Kufa Charity, Dewan Architects + Engineers, Ayad Al-Tuhafi Architects, British Airways, Bonair, JT+Partners, Global Compact Network Iraq, LWK+PARTNERS, BIMLab, and the Lebanese American University.