Tamayouz Excellence Award is proud to announce the winners for its Architecture Graduation Projects Award 2025.
The winner selection was based on the award’s assessment criteria, highlighting aspirational and transformative projects that tackle local and global challenges through a holistic understanding of context.
The award is open to architecture, urban design, urban planning, architecture technology and landscape design students worldwide.
The award aims to recognise excellence in architectural design and education worldwide and showcase excellent architectural examples to promote and provoke architectural debate.
This year, Tamayouz Excellence Award for Architecture Graduation Projects received 949 entries from teams and individuals, representing 185 universities across 47 countries.
For more information, read about the top 100 finalists, the longlist and the shortlist of the Architecture Graduation Projects Award.
The first prize winner of the 2025 award is Ingy Abdelsalam Helmy Ibrahim El Shourbagy from Cairo University in Egypt, the second prize winner is Bisan Elsayed Kandil from Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport in Egypt, the third prize winner Soad Mohamed Mostafa Shahin from Cairo University in Egypt, the fourth prize winner is Khadijah Hamed Abdullah Abobakr Al-Attas from Cairo University in Egypt, and the fifth prize winner is Siam Rahman from the North South University in Bangladesh. The award also recognises five Honourable Mentions, a Special Award, the Architecture School of the Year, and the Supervisor of the Year.
The winners and honourable mentions were selected by Tamayouz’s jury panel, which met remotely in December 2025. The judges this year were:
- Ahmed Al-Azzawi – Iraq/UK: Award-winning architect and Technical Delivery Manager at Barratt Developments.
- Dr Ahmadreza Hakiminejad – UK: Researcher in Architecture and Urban Studies, and Lecturer at the Leeds School of Architecture, Leeds Beckett University, UK.
- Dr Mahsa Alami Fariman – UK: Academic – Lecturer in Just Urbanism, Societal Diversity and Citizenship | University College London.
- Dr Turath Jamil – Iraq/France: Architect and Researcher.
- Fernando Olba – Spain: architect and the principal of Fernando Olba Arquitectura y Urbanismo, a Valencia-based, award-winning sustainable design practice.
- Issias Yohanes – UK: A lecturer at Coventry University, an architect, educator, builder, and researcher based in London, UK.
- Maryam Safe – UK: A lecturer at Coventry University, and a Regenerative Systems and Funding Strategist at the Earth Architecture Lab.
- Muhannad Herzallah – Jordan: Architect and Academic at German Jordanian University.
- Noor Makkiya – USA: An urban designer, architect, and co-founder of WMN Atelier.
- Silan Yip Levelle – UK: Architect and Assistant Professor at Coventry University, UK.
- Stefanos Adamakis – Greece: Partner at Adamakis Architects & Associates.
- Zeina Magazachi – France: Architect, Interior Designer and Storyteller.
- Ossaid AlEitan – Jordan: Founding director of AlKafo for Construction Management & Design Consultancy (Non-voting facilitator).
- Ahmed Al-Mallak – UK: Founding Director of Tamayouz Excellence Award; Academic at Coventry University (Non-voting chair).
More information about our judges can be found on our jury page here.
The winners of the Tamayouz Architecture Graduation Projects Award 2025
*The winners’ selection and ranking are based on the judging panel’s unanimous decision on all entries.
The first prize winner is Ingy Abdelsalam Helmy Ibrahim El Shourbagy from Cairo University in Egypt, supervised by Dr Mohamed Noeman.
Jury Comment:
“The Living Symposium is recognised as a winning project for its poetic yet rigorous engagement with Aswan’s cultural legacy and extreme climatic conditions, translating regional architectural identity into a contemporary and highly resolved architectural framework. The project demonstrates a sophisticated reinterpretation of emblematic elements, most notably the wind catcher (Malqaf/Barjeel), which is reimagined as a multi-scalar and multi-functional spatial device—at times facilitating passive cooling, at others framing sculpture, supporting workshops, or structuring exhibition spaces. This layered approach reflects a deep understanding of climatic intelligence and the long-standing regional pursuit of harnessing airflow in hot environments.
The jury particularly valued the project’s sensitivity to social context and its relationship to the surrounding community. The integration of walkable exhibition routes, markets, and workshops creates an inclusive cultural landscape that is aspirational yet grounded. References to vernacular construction, such as rammed earth and shaded courtyard-like spatial sequences, root the proposal firmly in its environment while reinforcing cultural continuity.
The architectural resolution is convincing and coherent, with environmental systems fully embedded within the spatial and material logic of the design. High-quality technical drawings and a visually cohesive presentation further strengthen the project’s narrative clarity. Overall, the proposal demonstrates how architecture can communicate a powerful idea without resorting to monumentality, achieving a balanced dialogue among landscape, architecture, and art, and offering a buildable, climate-responsive vision that is both contextually grounded and forward-looking.”
The second prize winner is Bisan Elsayed Kandil from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport in Egypt, supervised by Omar Mohamed Galal.
Jury Comment:
“Nile Settlements offers a sensitive, humane, and intellectually rigorous architectural response to a volatile territorial, humanitarian, and environmental context along the Nile. The project demonstrates a precise reading of conflict, displacement, and ecological instability, translating these conditions into an architectural proposition that is both innovative and grounded. By reinterpreting Sudan’s boat-building traditions, local craftsmanship is transformed into a mobile architectural system that supports safety, community life, and long-term adaptability in uncertain conditions.
The jury particularly valued the community-centred approach, where diverse needs are addressed through a series of distinct yet interrelated floating typologies. These range from spaces for communal exchange and education to shelters shaped by functional, climatic, and social constraints. While each floating structure is carefully resolved, the true strength of the project lies in the collective condition, where the interplay among elements forms a coherent, scalable settlement that embodies resilience, adaptability, and belonging.
Operating across the threshold between land and water, the project choreographs a dual condition. Terrestrial hubs foster connection and restoration during periods of stability, while waterborne structures provide refuge when land can no longer guarantee safety. The framing of water as a shared, borderless territory is compelling in the current political climate, positioning the river as both a symbolic and an operative sanctuary. The integration of renewable energy systems and attention to evolving patterns of occupation further reinforce the proposal’s long-term resilience.
The jury noted that the project could be strengthened through more precise articulation of its generative processes, particularly the evolution of settlement morphology and the role of ecological systems as active contributors to spatial performance, as well as deeper development of community-based stewardship frameworks. Nevertheless, the proposal stands out for its cultural intelligence, ethical clarity, and restrained architectural language, offering a compelling reference for how architecture can respond thoughtfully to pressing socio-political and environmental challenges.”
The third prize winner is Soad Mohamed Mostafa Shahin from Cairo University in Egypt, supervised by Dr Mohamed Noeman.
Jury Comment:
“This project demonstrates a strong and innovative architectural response to a highly complex environmental, social, and technical challenge. Grounded in rigorous research, the proposal establishes a clear link between the ecological degradation of Lake Nasser and the gradual decline of Nubian craft traditions, translating this relationship into a coherent architectural narrative. The project’s ambition lies not only in its conceptual scope but also in its ability to propose new forms of environmental remediation that are inseparable from cultural production and local employment.
The jury particularly valued the clarity and quality of the project’s representation. A carefully constructed sequence of diagrams, plans, and technical drawings reveals a well articulated design process, most notably in the transition from the floating reed farm to the gentle curvature of the rails guiding the reed beds back toward the water. This gesture, which evolves into the building facade, unifies process, material, and spatial expression with both technical precision and poetic sensitivity to the landscape and its cycles. The storytelling is consistently strong, demonstrating a high level of architectural communication and conceptual clarity.
The proposal operates confidently across multiple scales, from the broader territorial and urban context to the intimate human experience of space. This multiscalar approach reinforces the project’s coherence and shows an advanced ability to translate large scale environmental strategies into tangible architectural and communal spaces. In doing so, the project transforms what could have remained a purely technical or engineering driven solution into an architectural proposition that communicates sustainability through spatial experience, almost rendering complex systems legible through architectural form.
While the overall resolution is mature and extends beyond the scope of a typical graduation project, the jury noted that a deeper exploration of interior conditions would further strengthen the proposal by allowing the architectural spaces themselves to be more fully understood and experienced. Nevertheless, the project stands out for its intellectual rigor, environmental intelligence, and refined architectural vision, offering a compelling example of how architecture can mediate between ecology, culture, and collective life.”
The fourth prize winner is Khadijah Hamed Abdullah Abobakr Al-Attas from Cairo University in Egypt, supervised by Dr Mohamed Noeman.
Jury Comment:
“The Nuangan Ark presents a bold and imaginative architectural response to building in flood-prone environments, demonstrating a strong sense of creativity and ambition throughout. The project is underpinned by rigorous technical investigation, with clear, well-resolved drawings that effectively communicate the layered relationships among canopy, market space, and the ground plane. The jury particularly appreciated the student’s ability to test multiple scenarios through a wide range of representational methods, from analytical diagrams to atmospheric visualisations, revealing a confident command of architectural communication.
The proposal is driven by an exploration of hybrid structural systems, modular timber cores, and floating platforms, resulting in a speculative yet carefully studied architectural language. The kinetic canopy and the primary formal gesture are ambitious and visionary, and while they extend beyond immediate buildability, they are supported by a serious process of inhabitation and resolution. The architectural spaces produced are compelling, most notably the dramatic entrance sequence to the market from the river, which offers a powerful spatial experience while engaging sensitively with local material traditions such as bamboo and Galam wood.
At the same time, the jury identified a tension between the scale of the proposal and the community it seeks to serve. The project appears oversized in the rural context in which it is presented, raising questions about its realism, its impact on everyday life, and its alignment with local needs. A more precise articulation of the site context, supported by photographs and site sections, alongside a more calibrated approach to scale and programme, would strengthen the project’s relevance and grounding.
Nevertheless, the project offers an optimistic, forward-looking vision of how coastal and riverine communities might coexist with water rather than resist it. Its ambition, technical confidence, and speculative clarity position it as a thought-provoking architectural proposition that invites further refinement rather than diminishing its overall strength.”
The fifth prize winner is Siam Rahman from the North South University in Bangladesh, supervised by Mujtaba Ahsan and A K M Saleh Ahmed Anik.
Jury Comment:
“This project presents a well-resolved and complete architectural proposition that demonstrates a high level of sensitivity to community participation and everyday life. Through a modular design approach, the proposal enables users to actively engage with and contribute to the programme, reinforcing a sense of ownership and collective involvement. The depth of reflection guiding the design process is clearly communicated through carefully crafted imagery and thoughtful sectional drawings, which reveal strong spatial intelligence and narrative clarity.
The project challenges conventional perceptions of industrial architecture, moving away from harsh, utilitarian environments toward a more humane, playful understanding of work. By reimagining the factory as a place of dignity, comfort, and social interaction, the architecture supports creative exchange and redefines production spaces as environments of care, adaptability, and community. An integrated spatial framework allows production and daily life to coexist, with courtyards and shared spaces carefully scaled to encourage interaction and a sense of inhabitation.
The jury particularly appreciated the student’s control over spatial organisation and material thinking, supported by drawings and visualisations that effectively communicate atmosphere and human scale, especially at eye level. The breadth of work produced, from research to detailed technical drawings, reflects a systematic and well-structured process that translates a strong conceptual ambition into a coherent architectural language.
At the same time, the jury noted that the modular logic, when viewed on a larger scale, appears relatively familiar and less distinctive, thereby slightly weakening the originality of the overall formal gesture. Nevertheless, the careful handling of materiality, proportion, and spatial sequencing successfully restores intimacy at ground level, allowing the project to remain engaging and socially grounded despite its conventional modular framework.”
Honourable Mentions
Honourable mentions are listed in alphabetical order by name.
Bien Do Ha Giang from the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, supervised by Dam Huynh Quoc Vu.
Jury Comment:
“This project demonstrates a deep and mature understanding of the traditional architectural typologies of the Central Highlands, grounded in a thorough and well structured analytical process. The proposal reflects a careful reading of the cultural and environmental conditions of the Krong Ana River landscape, responding with an architectural strategy that is balanced, sensitive, and closely connected to its surroundings. The project demonstrates an apparent concern for nature and existing ecological systems, translating these considerations into a coherent, thoughtful architectural outcome.
The jury particularly valued the quality of the research and its mode of representation. Beautifully crafted physical models, delicate hand-drawn site studies, freehand sketches, and watercolours reveal a profound respect for the landscape, its materiality, and its cultural history. These representational tools are not treated as illustrations alone, but as integral instruments that meaningfully inform the design process. The resulting drawings and construction details are carefully resolved, contributing to a clear and convincing architectural proposition.
The sensitive reinterpretation of local architectural principles through a contemporary lens offers a meaningful path forward for the community, allowing evolution without erasing cultural origins. The use of locally sourced natural materials reinforces this approach and demonstrates how sustainability can be embedded from the earliest design decisions. The integration of wetland systems and a low-rise configuration further helps the project sit gently within the landscape, strengthening the relationship between people, architecture, and the environment that has shaped local identity.
At the same time, the jury noted that the overall scale of the intervention remains challenging to absorb fully. Despite the linear organisation, material restraint, and conceptual clarity, the project’s scale risks overpowering its sensitive context. A more restrained footprint or a phased approach could better align the project’s ambition with the site’s delicate character. Nevertheless, the proposal stands out for its cultural intelligence, material sensitivity, and respectful architectural language, offering a compelling example of how contemporary architecture can engage deeply with indigenous traditions and ecological responsibility.”
Hadeel Riad Shreim and Marah Amjad Al-hourani from Palestine Polytechnic University in Palestine, supervised by Dr Bader Al-atawneh.
Jury Comment:
“This project offers a sensitive and hopeful architectural response to the multiple environmental, social, and economic challenges currently faced by the people of Gaza. Through a holistic reading of Wadi Gaza as an interconnected ecological, agricultural, and cultural system, the proposal demonstrates deep respect for the land and a thoughtful understanding of how it might evolve under extreme constraints in the future. The project shifts attention toward community revival through sustainability and land based resilience, positioning architecture as a tool for care, recovery, and social continuity.
The jury particularly valued the integration of ecological repair, productive landscapes, and everyday social spaces into a coherent spatial strategy. Bamboo cultivation emerges as a smart, context-driven response to material scarcity, while the careful use of on-site resources reflects a high level of ingenuity and restraint. By designing from what is already available rather than imposing entirely new systems, the project demonstrates both environmental intelligence and ethical clarity. The proposal’s gentle interventions, including edible parks, bicycle paths, and bird towers woven into housing areas, communicate an architecture that prioritises human dignity, resilience, and collective renewal.
The quality of representation further reinforces the project’s intentions. Soft and understated imagery supports an optimistic and forward looking vision, allowing the architectural and landscape strategies to be read as subtle yet effective acts of repair. Extensive landscape research underpins the creation of an agricultural tapestry that supports both ecological recovery and community life, grounding the proposal in lived realities rather than abstraction.
At the same time, the jury noted that the project leans strongly toward a large scale strategic framework, with the architectural resolution remaining secondary to the landscape and planning narrative. More explicit architectural definition and more focused spatial moments would strengthen the proposal by making its ideas more tangible and spatially legible. Nevertheless, the project stands out for its thoughtful research, strategic clarity, and humane approach to rebuilding connections among people, land, and the environment in the context of an ongoing emergency.”
Hagar Mohamed Abd El Mohsen Hamed from Banha University in Egypt, supervised by Professor Sadek Saad.
Jury Comment:
“This project offers a thoughtful and intellectually grounded exploration of the importance of preserving collective memory within the urban fabric of Cairo. Through a clearly articulated process of research and analytical sketching, the proposal introduces the layered conditions of the Al Qatai area, revealing multiple strategies of intervention that consistently seek to retain the essence and historical continuity of the place. The project demonstrates a strong sensitivity to the idea of urban accumulation, positioning contemporary intervention as part of an ongoing dialogue rather than a rupture with the past.
The jury particularly valued the richness of the urban analysis and the maturity of its representation. The use of figure ground studies, hand sketches, exploded axonometrics, sections, and perspectives reflects an excellent command of architectural communication and an ability to present complex ideas with clarity. These drawing techniques are employed not only as descriptive tools but as analytical instruments that deepen the understanding of the site and its transformations over time.
The proposal’s restrained approach to intervention is compelling in its effort to safeguard the character of a constantly evolving city. By prioritising minimal and carefully considered actions, the project challenges the site while adapting to it with respect and cultural awareness. The focus on collective memory as a driver for design gives the project conceptual depth and aligns it closely with the social and historical realities of Cairo.
At the same time, the jury noted that the ambition and scale of the study result in certain aspects remaining underdeveloped. The treatment of public space would benefit from greater attention, and the human scale is not always articulated with sufficient depth to fully support the project’s poetic intentions. In addition, the architectural resolution remains relatively abstract in places, with the contemporary layer occasionally risking dominance over the existing fabric. A more restrained and precise spatial articulation could strengthen the translation of concept into built form. Nevertheless, the project stands out for its cultural intelligence, analytical rigour, and sensitive engagement with the memory of the city.”
Juaira Sizdah Tarabih from Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology in Bangladesh, supervised by Sanjida Ahmed Sinthia.
Jury Comment:
“This project presents a rich and engaging architectural and urban investigation into the terracotta craftsmanship of the PAAL community, articulated through a beautifully structured layout that guides the reader through an in-depth understanding of the community’s evolution over time. The study thoughtfully identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, demonstrating how architecture and urban planning can respond to existing gaps while proposing patterns for improvement through a range of carefully considered typologies and variations.
The jury particularly appreciated the project’s strong social commitment and its genuine care for materiality, production processes, and everyday life. The proposal demonstrates a clear understanding of how work, housing, and community are intertwined, with special attention given to the role of craft and the participation of women within the settlement. The intention to revive local identity by restoring the importance of traditional terracotta production is convincingly embedded within the architectural narrative, reinforcing the project’s grounding in lived reality.
The quality of representation further strengthens the proposal. The interplay between hand drawings and three dimensional renders is especially effective, reflecting a conscious effort to celebrate handmade craftsmanship while embracing contemporary modes of production. This balance between past and present enriches the storytelling and supports the project’s ambition to align heritage with modern architectural practice. The expressed concern for incorporating green technologies into the design also reinforces the project’s forward-looking attitude and environmental awareness.
At the same time, the jury noted that the project’s overall scope was overly extensive. The accumulation of functions slightly weakens the architectural focus, proposing read more like a comprehensive development plan than a tightly resolved architectural project. In addition, the lack of more detailed construction details limits a full understanding of how the architecture would be realised. Addressing these aspects would further strengthen what is otherwise a thoughtful, socially grounded, and well articulated project.”
Reza Farhadi, Maryam Noroozi, Amir Rahsaz, Hengameh Ghasemi, and Mahshid Del Avar, from University of British Columbia in Canada & University of Tehran in Iran, supervised by Dr Hossein Mansourian, Dr Keramatollah Ziari, Dr Aleksandra Dulic.
Jury Comment:
“This project presents an ambitious and thoughtful response to the contemporary wildfire crisis, grounded in rigorous research and conveyed through evocative visual storytelling. The depth and quality of the research are immediately evident, demonstrating maturity in both conceptual framing and analytical approach. By treating wildfire not as a condition to be eliminated but as one to work with, the proposal introduces a significant conceptual shift rooted in ecological thinking, Indigenous knowledge, and landscape based strategies. This reframing allows the project to engage climate change with sensitivity, intelligence, and ethical clarity.
The jury particularly valued the process-oriented design framework, which prioritises healing the land and supporting affected communities over the pursuit of a singular architectural form. A range of strategies operating across human, animal, landscape, and urban scales is carefully brought together to propose regenerative futures that emphasise resilience, stability, and safety. The diversity of these strategies, communicated through compelling imagery, successfully conveys a vision for community regeneration and ecological recovery.
At the same time, the jury noted that the proposal remains primarily strategic and speculative. While the conceptual research and narrative are strong, several strategies remain suggestive rather than fully developed, and the translation from research insights into concrete, implementable architectural interventions could be strengthened. The architectural and spatial resolution at the human scale is limited, which makes the project read more like a landscape manifesto than a fully realised architectural proposition.
Nevertheless, the project stands out for its ambition, sensitivity, and intellectual rigour. It offers a valuable and forward looking vision for how communities might confront climate change by working with natural processes rather than against them, and it sets a strong example of how theory, research, and ecological awareness can meaningfully inform architectural thinking.”
A special Award for the Top Graduation Project submitted by an Iraqi Student goes to Hussein Ammar Mohammed from the University of Kufa, supervised by Dr Kareem Al-Abdaly and Dr Hasanain Karbol.
*This special award replaces the former Iraqi Graduation Projects Category.
Jury Comment:
“This project is driven by a genuine social and ethical concern, grounded in a clear position that prioritises in place improvement, community involvement, and gradual transformation over displacement. By working within an existing informal settlement, the proposal demonstrates awareness of the social realities underpinning rapid urbanisation and global inequity. The jury valued the project’s restraint and care, particularly its resistance to monumental intervention in favour of incremental and low cost strategies that respect existing urban structures and community networks.
The strength of the proposal lies in its bottom up engagement with social, technical, and spatial realities. Through careful research and sensitivity to the existing urban grain, the project identifies latent potentials within an underserved neighbourhood. It proposes a series of stitched interventions that seek to improve spatial organisation and everyday life. The intention to empower residents through participatory processes and the use of local materials reflects a thoughtful approach to environmental mitigation, affordability, and long term sustainability.
At the same time, the jury noted that the project remains predominantly analytical, with limited architectural clarity and weak spatial resolution. Key concepts, such as the blurring of boundaries, are not always convincingly translated into concrete architectural actions, and several strategies appear generic rather than firmly rooted in the Iraqi context. While participatory design is central to the proposal, the specific mechanisms for meaningfully engaging communities require further development.
The architectural resolution would benefit from more precise articulation of form, scale, and spatial relationships, supported by more rigorous drawings, diagrams, and process driven studies. The lack of visual clarity makes it difficult to assess the architectural potential of the ideas presented fully. Nevertheless, the project stands out for its ethical grounding, social intelligence, and careful attitude toward working within sensitive urban conditions, offering a valuable framework for respectful and community led urban improvement that could be significantly strengthened through deeper architectural development.”
The Architecture School of the Year Award
Architecture School of the Year goes to Cairo University for its six entries in the Top 20, including the First prize, Third prize and Fourth prize winners.
The Supervisor of the Year Award
Dr Mohamed Noeman from Cairo University won Supervisor of the Year for supervising four of the Top 20 finalists, including the First Prize, Third Prize, and Fourth Prize Winners.
PRIZES
FIRST PRIZE
An MSc Scholarship for 2 Years at the University Polytechnic of Milan + Tamayouz Medal + Certificate + An invitation to attend the annual ceremony and the international design workshop (travel and accommodation covered by Tamayouz).
SECOND PRIZE
A three-month paid internship with Dewan Architects + Engineers in Dubai + Certificate + An invitation to attend the annual ceremony and the international design workshop (travel and accommodation covered by Tamayouz).
THIRD PRIZE
A three-month paid internship with Dewan Architects + Engineers in Dubai + Certificate + An invitation to attend the annual ceremony and the international design workshop (travel and accommodation covered by Tamayouz).
FOURTH PRIZE
A three-month paid internship with AJi Group at one of their office, location determined by AJi Group + Certificate + An invitation to attend the biennial ceremony (travel and accommodation covered by Tamayouz).
FIFTH PRIZE
A three-month paid internship with AJi Group at one of their office, location determined by AJi Group + Certificate + An invitation to attend the biennial ceremony (travel and accommodation covered by Tamayouz).
5 X HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Certificate + Invitation to attend the annual ceremony
SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Medal + Certificate given to the supervisor of the winning project or the supervisor with most entries supervised in the Top 10 Tamayouz
SCHOOL OF THE YEAR AWARD
Tamayouz Medallion is given to the university of the winning project or the university with the most entries in the Top 10.
SPECIAL AWARD
An MSc Scholarship for 2 Years at the University Polytechnic of Milan will be awarded to the Top Graduation Project submitted by an Iraqi Student. This special prize replaces the former Iraqi Graduation Projects Category.
THE SHORTLIST AND THE LONGLIST
Will feature in our online publications and social media pages.
The World’s Top 100 Graduation Projects Platform
As part of our effort to highlight the excellent work done by students worldwide, the Top 100 Graduation Projects will be showcased on our platform, The World’s Top 100 Graduation Projects.
Sponsors
Tamayouz Excellence Award is sponsored by 99 Properties Development, Coventry University, Dewan Architects + Engineers, Kufa–Makiya Charity, Bonair Ltd, Aji Group, and Round City Magazine.