DUBAI: The inaugural Middle East’s Most Transformative New Buildings Awards by the Royal Institute of British Architects aims to highlight the region’s emerging architectural landscape, and showcase a blend of cultural sensitivity and innovative design principles.
This is according to jury chair Kerem Cengiz, who recently spoke to Arab News about the nuanced judging process that celebrates projects demonstrating exceptional contextual understanding and sustainable approaches.
“The key was not just evaluating buildings, but understanding how they speak to their environment,” said Cengiz.
The jury examined submissions across diverse categories, ranging from small boutique projects to large urban interventions, representing the region’s dynamic architectural ecosystem.
“The shortlist is a powerful reflection of a region in architectural renaissance, where cultural identity is alive, evolving and deeply embedded in contemporary form,” he said.
Among the 15 shortlisted projects, for the awards to be announced on Nov. 5, are two from Saudi Arabia: King Salman Park in Riyadh, and the nearby Wadi Safar Experience Center.
King Salman Park is a sweeping regeneration of the city’s former airport site by Gerber Architekten, Buro Happold and Setec. The ambitious project is transforming a relic of the aviation era into a vast urban oasis, providing residents and visitors with a network of gardens.
The Wadi Safar Experience Center is a gateway to the wider Wadi Safar development and draws on the vernacular Najdi style. Created by Dar Al-Omran – Rasem Badran, the center features inward-facing courtyards and earth-berm landscaping that create a cool, contemplative atmosphere while celebrating the region’s heritage.
Notably, the judging process emphasized several critical evaluation parameters, including skillful compositional design, exceptional spatial qualities, cultural continuity, environmental sustainability and contextual responsiveness.
Cengiz said he was surprised the jury reached a remarkable consensus, indicating a shared vision for architectural excellence in the Middle East.
“The submissions demonstrated a significant shift from mimicking global design trends to establishing unique regional architectural identities,” he added.
For emerging architects in the region, Cengiz offered advice: “Don't be shy to submit your work. Create designs that respect your environment, heritage, and contemporary design approaches.”
“Be mindful of contemporary design approaches, but also be mindful of the fact that you are in a place where what you design speaks of the environment that we live in, in the whole and in the heritage and culture.
“And not to be either overawed by that, or, you know, playing too much to that, but being encompassed in what you do, in the architecture that you generate.”
