The spirit of UNESCO Competition
The spirit of UNESCO Competition to reconstruct and rehabilitate the Al Nouri Mosque Complex in Mosul, Iraq; winning entry; and the start of an ambitious project
UNESCO announced the winning architectural design of the international competition to rebuild Al Nouri Mosque Complex in Mosul. Here’s all we need to know from the start of this competition to the winning entry, and what lies ahead for this prestigious project…
This has turned into a fruitful and amazing journey. It all started when last year The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced the launch of an international design competition for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Al Nouri Complex in Mosul, Iraq. The contest, which was administered by the UNESCO Office in Iraq, was organised in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, the Sunni Endowment in Iraq, and with the financial support of the United Arab Emirates.
Endorsed by the International Union of Architects (UIA), registration for this project opened on November 16, 2020, with the contest welcoming submissions from architects and engineers from across the world.
The international jury discussed the whole process between April 6-12, 2021, brainstormed, and assessed all the submissions to select the winning entry. A few of the jurors met physically, and the rest joined online to share their views and make the important selection. The winning entry was announced on April 15, 2021, and an entry by eight Egyptian architects won the international competition for the reconstruction of the Al Nouri Mosque Complex in Mosul. This is a major component of UNESCO’s ambitious initiative for the rehabilitation of the ancient city, Revive the Spirit of Mosul.
Selected from among 123 entries, the winning design for a “Courtyards Dialogue,” as the winning project is called, was presented by a team of four partners Salah El Din Samir Hareedy, Head of Team, Khaled Farid El-Deeb, Sherif Farag Ebrahim, and Tarek Ali Mohamed, and four designer architects Noha Mansour Ryan, Hager Abdel Ghani Gad, Mahmoud Saad Gamal, and Yousra Muhamed El-Baha.
The winning design receives a $50,000 prize and will be awarded the contract for the detailed design of the complex. The runners-up will be awarded prizes in recognition of their work, $30,000 will be given to a team from India, followed by $20,000 to an entry from Spain, $15,000 to teams from Mexico and Belgium, and $10,000 to a team of architects from the United Arab Emirates and France.
“The selection of the winning design under the international competition for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Al-Nouri Mosque complex is a significant milestone under the ‘Revive the Spirit of Mosul’ initiative. In 2018, the UAE took the lead and joined UNESCO on this historic endeavor, inspired by the history and legacy of Mosul and the resilience and strength of its people. Reaching this important milestone has brought us closer to the realization of a shared commitment to restore social cohesion and a spirit of fraternity and tolerance in Mosul once again,” says Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, United Arab Emirates Minister of Culture and Youth.
The project foresees the reconstruction of the mosque’s Prayer Hall and the organic integration of the entire complex – the largest public space in the Old City of Mosul – in its urban surrounding, through a series of open public spaces and five entry points from the adjoining streets.
The jury for the competition included:
-Howayda Al-Harithy, Saudi Arabia: Professor of Architecture and Director of the School of Design at the American University of Beirut.
-Ahmed Alomary, Iraq: Head of the Department of Architectural Engineering at the University of Mosul
-Raya Ani, Iraq: FAIA, LEED AP, Founder and Design Director at RAW-NYC Architects
-Xavier Casanovas, Spain: Expert in urban regeneration and sustainable rehabilitation and professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia
-Amel Chabbi, United Arab Emirates: Head of the Conservation Section at the Department of Culture and Tourism for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
-Shahira Fahmy, Egypt: Architect, urbanist, creative researcher and founder of Shahira Fahmi Architects
-Wang Shu, China: Architect and co-founder of Amateur Architecture Studio
-Marina Tabassum, Bangladesh: Architect and principal of Marina Tabassum Architects
-Shadia Touqan, Palestine: Architect, urban planner and director of ARC-WH (UNESCO Category 2 Centre)
-Jerzy Uścinowicz, Poland Professor of Architecture and Head of the Division of Architecture of Local Cultures in the Faculty of Architecture of the Białystok University of Technology.
We interviewed three of the jury members, to share their views of the round-up of this prestigious competition.
Amel Chabbi
Conservation Manager
Historic Environment Department
- What qualities were you most looking forward to in the winner?
For me, it was essential that the winning design successfully integrates public open spaces, creatively connect the main courtyard in front of the Prayer Hall with the new functions required, and sensitively treat the rehabilitation of the remains of Prayer hall and other historic buildings. It was also important that the winner reinstate the whole complex and the mosque as an urban node in the city not only as a place of communal worship but also as a key driver for community development and social interaction. - How would this project revive the history of Mosul and present it as a global landmark like one never seen before?
Mosul means “The linking Point” in Arabic. Indeed, Mosul was, historically, a city of cultural understanding with a vibrant cultural life. The new al Nouri mosque will, I hope, become the new “linking point” of the city. The reconstruction of this international landmark is a symbol of Mosul and a testament of the will of Moslawis to re-emerge stronger and more united.
…………………………………………………………..
Dr. Ahmed Yousif Alomary
Assistant Professor
Head of Dept. of Architectural Engineering
University of Mosul-Iraq
- How would you describe your approach to this design competition?
In the beginning of the jury sessions, I gave a lecture to the jury regarding Mosul’s architecture and its characteristics. Thus, I presented them with a deeper sense of the existing cultural heritage context of Mosul’s Old City. The focus of the competition was to select a project , which through its design would meet, to the best extent possible, requirements such as:
– being a good integration within the urban context,
– having a positive influence on the context of social interaction,
– expressing the local identity,
– being a sustainable design,
– upgrading architecture quality,
– is an ecological solution, etc.
All these requirements are within the framework of Islamic architecture and in the spirit of local architecture. Some of the received projects were far from the Arabic and Islamic architecture, and subjecting a different concept, alien to the context of Mosul Old City. I believe, this may be due to the lack of knowledge of Mosul’s architecture. The winning project was developed by an Egyptian team, and I believe, that it was the closest to the architectural scene of the city. This may refer to the civilizational rapprochement between the two countries.
…………………………..
Xavier Casanovas
President de RehabiMed
- Are you happy with the response and entries you received for this competition?
The response to this competition has been extraordinary, both for the number of participants and the high quality of the proposals submitted. Another aspect to highlight, is the diversity of countries and cultural environments of the participants, who have fully understood the importance of the city of Mosul and the Al Nouri complex. They have correctly interpreted the challenges posed today in their reconstruction. - How would this competition benefit the winner in terms of knowledge, career growth, and international positioning?
We are talking about a competition that has had a great international impact and that has mobilized hundreds of teams from all over the world. For the winning team, having participated and winning the competition will mean that they will be better known and will surely be presented with new opportunities for new projects. In any case, in my opinion, both the winning team and most of the participants have made the effort to prepare interesting and very elaborate proposals, not so much to position themselves internationally, but out of solidarity and commitment to the city of Mosul, while contributing to the recovery of the daily life of its inhabitants.……………………………………..
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UNESCO announces winning architectural design of competition to rebuild Al-Nouri Mosque complex in Mosul
An international jury today announced that an entry by eight Egyptian architects won the international competition for the reconstruction of the historic Al-Nouri Mosque complex in Mosul, Iraq, a major component of UNESCO’s ambitious project for the rehabilitation of the ancient city, Revive the Spirit of Mosul.
Selected from among 123 entries, the winning design for a “Courtyards Dialogue,” as the winning project is called, was presented by a team of four partners Salah El Din Samir Hareedy, Head of Team, Khaled Farid El-Deeb, Sherif Farag Ebrahim, and Tarek Ali Mohamed, and four designer architects Noha Mansour Ryan, Hager Abdel Ghani Gad, Mahmoud Saad Gamal, and Yousra Muhamed El-Baha.
“The reconstruction of Al-Nouri Mosque complex, a historical site that is part of Mosul’s fabric and history, will be a landmark in the process of advancing the war-torn city’s reconciliation and social cohesion. Heritage sites and historical monuments are powerful catalysts for people’s sense of belonging, of community, and identity. They are key to reviving the spirit of Mosul and of Iraq as a whole,” says Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General.
“The selection of the winning design under the international competition for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Al-Nouri Mosque complex is a significant milestone under the ‘Revive the Spirit of Mosul’ initiative. In 2018, the UAE took the lead and joined UNESCO on this historic endeavor, inspired by the history and legacy of Mosul and the resilience and strength of its people. Reaching this important milestone has brought us closer to the realization of a shared commitment to restore social cohesion and a spirit of fraternity and tolerance in Mosul once again,” says Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, United Arab Emirates Minister of Culture and Youth.
The winners, seasoned architects with a notable track record in heritage rehabilitation, urban planning and climate-based architecture, will now produce a more detailed design for the reconstruction of Al-Nouri complex, with a view to starting its building in late autumn 2021.
The project foresees the reconstruction of Al-Nouri’s historic prayer hall and the organic integration of the complex, the largest public space in the Old City of Mosul, in its urban surrounding through open public spaces with five entry points from surrounding streets.
While the prayer hall will look as it did before the 2017 destruction of Al-Nouri Mosque, it will feature notable improvements in the use of natural light and expanded spaces for women and dignitaries, that will connect to the main hall through a semi covered open structure which could also serve as an open space for prayer.
The winning project further foresees the creation of enclosed gardens evocative of the historic houses and gardens that were located around the prayer hall prior to its remodelling in 1944.Upon notification of their winning, the team issued a statement welcoming the results of the competition saying “Our team worked with high passion to submit a project that primarily addresses the need for social cohesion and revival of souls. We are looking forward to completing the design and to helping the revival of the Old City of Mosul.”
The winning design will receive a $50,000 prize and will be awarded the contract for the detailed design of the complex. The runners-up will be awarded prizes in recognition of their work, $30,000 will be given to a team from India, followed by $20,000 to an entry from Spain, $15,000 to a team in the USA, and $10,000 to a team of architects from the United Arab Emirates, France, Turkey and Lebanon.
The international design competition for the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Al-Nouri complex in Mosul was launched in November 2020 by UNESCO. The competition was prepared in close coordination with the Iraqi Ministry of Culture and the Iraqi Sunni Endowment, with the support of the United Arab Emirates, all of them members of the Joint Steering Committee of the project. This reconstruction of the Al-Nouri Complex is part of UNESCO’s flagship initiative Revive the Spirit of Mosul, which was launched in 2018 and concerns the rehabilitation of the historical fabric of the Old city of Mosul, the revival of the city’s cultural life, and the strengthening of its educational system to ensure quality education for all.
The Joint Steering Committee of the project and international architectural competition for the Al-Nouri complex, required entrants to conserve the parts of the prayer hall that survived the 2017 destruction and integrate them into new buildings. It also called for the rehabilitation of historical edifices as part of the new landscaped site. By creating new spaces dedicated to the community – for education, social and cultural activities – the project will serve the inhabitants of Mosul in ways that go beyond its principal religious function.
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Grimshaw’s mangrove tree-inspired design wins Shenzhen transport competition
A design consortium led by Grimshaw, alongside Mott MacDonald, China Aviation Planning and Design Institute (AVIC CAPDI) and Beijing Urban Construction Design and Development Group (BJUCD) has been selected as the winner of an international competition for Shenzhen Airport East Integrated Transport Hub. The multi-disciplinary design team also includes schlaich bergermann partner (sbp), Atelier Ten, and Gross Max.
Sponsored by China National Railway Corporation Limited and Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, the project is undertaken by Shenzhen Metro Corporation Limited as the tenderer. The Grimshaw team was announced as winner following an assessment by a bid evaluation committee of 13 experts in urban planning and design, architectural design, aviation, railway, urban rail, and integrated transportation.
The brief called for an aspirational vision to create an integrated intermodal transport hub to act as a new urban gateway and landmark for the Greater Bay Area. It also set out the need to be safe, green, intelligent and humanistic, integrating the latest technologies to set a new benchmark for similar projects around the world.
The winning proposal will improve the journeys of thousands of daily commuters– providing effortless transfers between high speed rail and other public transport modes. The hub will also provide connections and terminal facilities for passengers travelling to and from Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, making it one of the most integrated transport interchanges in the world.
The transport interchange will be a catalyst for the transformation of the whole east terminal area into a vibrant, people oriented new commercial and cultural district for Shenzhen. The master plan has been designed to promote active travel through provision of intuitive routes, active frontages and enriching landscape features. Passengers will enjoy breath-taking arrival and departure experiences as they transit through the hub where the flowing architectural forms and naturally daylit spaces will help to guide people on their journeys through the interchange.
The design takes its inspiration from the Mangrove, a tree that has special significance for the city of Shenzhen and is one of the planet’s most effective carbon absorbers. The team developed a strong set of design principles enabling a harmonious and unique development delivering operational, experiential and ecological excellence.
The natural form of the tree’s diverse root eco-system, which thrives where waterways converge, inspired the journey passengers will take, both above and below ground, landside and airside, while its bio-diversity will be in harmony with the hub’s exciting mix of uses
Jolyon Brewis, Grimshaw partner, says: “We are often inspired by the transfer of geometries and forms from nature into architecture. We have applied this approach to the master plan and interchange design at Shenzhen Bao’an Airport which is directly inspired by the mangrove tree. Not only does this have symbolic value as an important tree to Shenzhen, but it has led us to a solution for the building that is highly efficient. It will also be a wonderful place for people to occupy and travel through. We hope it will lift the spirits of millions of Shenzhen citizens, as well as those who visit this incredible city.”
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10 Design wins competition to create a luxury resort in Lukoran, Croatia
10 Design is leading on the master plan and architectural design for the residences and beach house within the luxury Lukoran Resort set on the island of Ugljan, Croatia. The team has been commissioned by SITNO Holding Real Estate to produce the first phase of the 77,000sqm site, following an international design competition.
The scheme incorporates a series of premium villas with private infinity pools, townhouses with shared pool amenity and 4 apartment blocks. The residential scheme is underpinned by a publicly accessible beach club located adjacent to a proposed new marina, which is set to be complete with food and beverage outlets, leisure facilities including gym and spa, small retail units and a large external hospitality space with a pool terrace.
The various different residency options share a common architectural vocabulary and materiality, creating a uniformed brand for the product range. With contrasting shades of the local stone and contrasting dark grey paint, the residences are finished with robust steel detailing. This architectural language has been inspired by the dramatic landscape and marine tradition. The beach club bears a corresponding design palette to the residences and will act as both a waterfront gateway and a central destination for the scheme.
Paul Rodgers, Design Partner at 10 Design says: “As the design lead for the first phase of this master plan, we have realised a scheme which embraces the site’s landscape and celebrates its origins. The brief was to produce a suite of premium products which together create a sense of destination unique to Lukoran. The scheme’s design will set a new benchmark for quality resorts in Croatia.”
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UNESCO international competition: Calling designers and architects
Registration for international architectural design competition for reconstruction & rehabilitation of the Al Nouri Complex in Mosul closes on December 21, 2020. The announcement of the winner will be made on April 15th, 2021. UNESCO will be offering a range of prizes to the top five design entries with the winner getting $50,000. The second place will get $30,000, third place $20,000, fourth place $15,000, and fifth place $10,000.
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Zoha Hosseini from Ajman University wins P&T Architects and Engineers’ student competition
A student from Ajman University has beaten the competition of over 100 applicants across the UAE and reigned supreme as the winner of the second edition of P&T Architects and Engineers’ student competition. The international, award-winning design firm, announced the first, second and third place designs and distributed AED 20,000 worth of prizes to the successful candidates in greatly anticipated closing event.
The competition was held by P&T Group to nurture future architects of the region and provide them with a platform to present their talents and help answer the region’s design challenges. All ideas submitted were expected to include an innovative and original design solution for a cultural museum and visitors centre for the archaeological site in Jumeirah, promoting local heritage for the year of “Towards the next 50”. During the judging process, the jury considered how each idea’s design relates to its surroundings, the functionality of the project, its use of renewable resources and its impact on the environment, as well as how well it works for visitors and the staff operating the centre.
The virtual awards ceremony saw finalists, professors, judges and representatives of the Society of Engineers come together, with the support of Architectural Heritage Society, to celebrate the indisputable talent of the budding architects. P&T presented Zoha Hosseini from Ajman University with the first place prize for her design, Jumeirah Archaeological Site journey, which aims to take visitors on a journey through a passage of time in the UAE’s history. Zoha was awarded with the prize of AED 10,000, an internship at P&T and her winning design will be announced on P&T’s competition website and social media.
In second place was Ahmad Mansour, from American University in Dubai, whose design named Interwoven was inspired by the UAE’s first type of house build, the “Arish House”. Ahmad was awarded an AED 6,000 cash prize. Finally, in third place was a group entry by Alina Sebastian, Saagarika Dias, Samrakshana Suresh and Urva Parmar from American University of Sharjah who won the prize of AED 4,000. Their design was for The Museum of the Future and was inspired by the idea of excavation as a facet of archaeology. Seven other competitors also received honourable mentions for their notable submissions.
Group Managing Director of P&T, James Abbott said: “The 2020 edition of the P&T Architectural student competition has been a great success. The process of receiving and judging the entries was a very uplifting experience and it was great to see the overall very high quality of the submissions.”
AUS students win world’s largest student architecture competition
Two recent graduates from the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) have been awarded the grand prize in architecture for this year’s Inspireli Awards, the world’s largest global competition in architecture, urban design and landscape, and interior design.
Mariam Jacob and Nada Khalaf were among seven architecture students from CAAD to have been shortlisted for the award and were selected by a jury of 500 architects from 99 countries. Their achievement will be celebrated in a virtual ceremony on November 4, 2020.
The two winners worked under associate professor and AUS alumnus Faysal Tabbarah to create Thin Topograhies: Enhancing Food Production in Marakkech. Their project aims to reinterpret food waste and uncover the potential of discarded organic material by repurposing it for consumption, redefining it for material construction, and encouraging a sustainable lifestyle within Marrakesh, Morocco.
The project was part of the student’s final semester of work at AUS, produced amidst the challenges of the sudden transition to remote learning earlier in 2020. Khalaf said the Inspireli award has allowed her to appreciate the work in a new way.
“From day one, CAAD has pushed me to not only meet the standards placed in front of me, but also to consistently strive to exceed my own expectations. Professionally, this award will allow us to connect with the world at a much larger scale, and hopefully act as a stepping stone to new opportunities,” said Khalaf.
Jacob said the selection process was intense, and included three rounds of consideration with a multinational jury.
“Being part of Inspireli has expanded the reach of young graduates and students like myself through their large network and media reach. Being selected as the winner in the Architecture category makes this opportunity even more surreal. This accolade has surely provided me with positive affirmations and I hope that in due time it leads to the opening of multiple doors from a professional standpoint,” she said.
Professor George Katodrytis, Head of the Department of Architecture at CAAD, said the Inspireli Awards serve as an important platform for CAAD students to present their work on a global stage, demonstrating their ability to compete with students from the world’s most prestigious design institutions.
“For more than 20 years, CAAD has built a reputation in the region for producing outstanding architects and designers, with many of our graduates now leading the way as some of the UAE’s top home-grown talent,” said Katrodytis.
“Now more than ever, our students are being recognised for their work on the global stage. This is in large part due to offering them exposure to competitions such the Inspireli Awards, where they get to present their work to a global audience of design professionals and academics. This exposure is really priceless for students as they begin their professional careers and has opened the door to many exciting opportunities for our graduates,” he said.
Ellington Art Foundation launches ‘The Art of The Silk Road’ competition to support local talent
Ellington Art Foundation, an initiative by property developer Ellington Properties, has announced a new nationwide art competition under the theme ‘The Art of The Silk Road’, to support aspiring and emerging artists in the UAE with commissioned pieces.
The initiative has been launched in line with the art foundation’s goal of promoting the UAE’s creative scene and supporting the nation’s goal to be a global centre for art and design.
Aimed at fostering local artists, the competition will offer homegrown talent an opportunity to elevate their visibility in the art sector by showcasing their creative work at one of Ellington’s award-winning residential projects, Wilton Terraces. The contest is open to all UAE residents aged 18 and over.
Robert Booth, managing director, Ellington Properties, said: “The Wilton Terrace Art Competition highlights our commitment to support and empower the UAE’s art community. We offer local upcoming and striving artists an avenue to showcase their creativity and join the league of featured artists by the Ellington Art Foundation at our communities. Our exceptionally designed residential developments deliver the finest in every aspect of life, and Wilton Terraces will serve as an ideal venue to exhibit award-winning art.”
Artists, photographers and designers can submit their concepts for paintings, photographs, sculptures and installations that display the fusion of oriental and occidental cultures using neutral palette and earth tones. Submissions are open until October 31, 2020 and entries will be reviewed by a panel of seasoned industry experts.
Ellington will award promising artists a premium exhibiting space within their stunning residential development, Wilton Terraces, in addition to monetary support from Ellington Art Foundation to craft the masterpieces.
Some of the art installations and pieces produced and commissioned as part of earlier initiatives include Emirati artist, Khalid Shafar’s sculpture – Palm Bouquet in the reception lobby of Belgravia, Hamama, a suspended art installation created by design students of the American University of Sharjah in Belgravia II and ‘V’, a wooden wall sculpture by Nour Daou in Eaton Place.
Colab and Broadway Interiors launch design competition
The competition, which officially launches on September 13, 2020, calls for students to develop a design concept for a full wall(s) or floor for implementation within Colab. A submission can be made for one, two, three, four or five walls; each wall will be valued on its own merit and the entry can be developed by an individual or a group of students working in collaboration. The design concept should be developed from a portfolio of product generously supplied by a host of suppliers including Optimum Gulf, Dukta, Topakustik, Surface Eleven, Finsa, Sherwin- Williams, FunderMax HPL, No Grey Area International, BSH Walls & Floors, Wow Factor, and Shaw Contract.