Latest news with #MENASA
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
Design Doha, Architect Ibáñez launch public art competition
Tribune News Network Doha Design Doha, Qatar Museums' biennial showcase for excellence and innovation in the design community in Qatar and the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) has announced the launch of the Urban Space Design Competition in partnership with architect Javier Peña Ibáñez, founder of the Concéntrico Festival. The competition is part of Design Doha's Public Design Commissions, an ambitious initiative that invites designers to reimagine and enrich Doha's urban spaces through site-specific, community-oriented interventions. This first-of-its-kind competition is open to architects, designers, artists and urban-planning professionals from the MENASA region to submit proposals for permanent urban installations in Doha that promote public engagement and enhance the city's unique physical, cultural, and social identity. The winning designers will each receive awards of QR25,000 and a production budget of up to QR120,000 for the installation of works at key urban locations across Doha as part of Doha Design 2026. The Urban Space Design competition promotes the reimagination of Doha's public spaces by transforming parks, heritage sites, waterfronts, traditional markets, and metro station exteriors into vibrant, community-oriented areas. Each installation will be evaluated for cultural relevance, innovation, adaptability, and sustainability, responding to specific site categories. The competition highlights the intersection of design and local identity, encouraging public interaction through inclusive and accessible urban design. In support of Qatar's sustainable development goals, designs should incorporate locally sourced materials. Fahad Al Obaidly, acting director of Design Doha, said, 'The Urban Space Design Competition is a unique opportunity for designers from the MENASA region to make innovative, sustainable, and publicly beneficial interventions across Doha. As part of the Public Design Commissions and a key component of Design Doha 2026, the winning designs will weave into the cultural and social fabric of Qatar.' Javier Peña Ibáñez, founder of the Concéntrico Festival, said 'I look forward to working with Design Doha and emerging and established designers from the Middle East and North Africa to create new public art and design for Doha. This is the kind of project designers dream of, and it is my honour to help bring some remarkable projects to this one-of-a-kind cityscape.' Selected proposals will be produced in collaboration with designated production partners. Participants are encouraged to use eco-friendly and durable materials, explore innovative shading and cooling techniques tailored to the local climate, and integrate modularity and reuse in their proposals. Applicants can submit multiple proposals, which must be presented digitally via the Design Doha website, by July 26, 2025.
Hi Dubai
19-06-2025
- General
- Hi Dubai
National Pavilion UAE Invites Curators to Shape 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale Showcase
The National Pavilion UAE has opened applications for curators to lead the country's exhibition at the 20th International Architecture Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia, running from May to November 2027. The open call invites architects, designers, artists, historians, and researchers with ties to the UAE or the broader MENASA region to submit concept proposals that uncover untold stories in the UAE's architectural landscape. Submissions should offer a strong curatorial vision that reflects both local narratives and broader global discourse. Applicants may be UAE citizens, residents, or international professionals with relevant regional experience. Team entries are welcome, provided at least one member is UAE-based. The initiative encourages critical reflection, creative research, and engagement with past National Pavilion UAE exhibitions. Angela Migally, Executive Director of the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, described the Biennale as 'a space for rigorous thought' and emphasized the opportunity to anchor global conversations in UAE-specific contexts. Laila Binbrek, Director of the National Pavilion UAE, highlighted the Pavilion's continued role as a platform for culturally significant research and dialogue. Information sessions will be held in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with dates to be announced. Applications close at midnight UAE time on 30 September 2025. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Qatar Tribune
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar Pavilion at 19th International Architecture Exhibition explores forms of hospitality embodied in architecture with Beyti Beytak
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Pavilion is presenting 'Beyti Beytak. My Home is Your Home. La mia casa è la tua casa', a two-part exhibition presented at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition—La Biennale di Venezia. Beyti Beytak explores how forms of hospitality are embodied in the architecture and urban landscapes of the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA). The exhibition examines how modern and contemporary architecture responds to the needs of communities while reimagining a sense of belonging. Beyti Beytak is produced by Qatar Museums and organised by the future Art Mill Museum, featuring an installation in the Giardini della Biennale and a presentation at the ACP-Palazzo Franchetti. The 19th International Architecture Exhibition marks the first official participation of Qatar. The presentation at the ACP-Palazzo Franchetti is organized with the support of ACP Art Capital Partners. Beyti Beytak is on view to the public from May 10 to November 23, 2025. Commissioner of the Qatar Pavilion and Chairperson of Qatar Museums Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, said, 'The exhibition Beyti Beytakdemonstrates the commitment of Qatar Museums to amplify the voices of leading modern and contemporary creatives from the Arab world and neighbouring regions. 'This exhibition not only highlights the profound contributions of MENASA architects to global architecture but also reflects our shared values of hospitality, community, and belonging. 'As we continue to shape a cultural landscape of dialogue and exchange, this exhibition serves as a testament to Qatar's role in advancing cultural diplomacy and fostering a deeper understanding of our diverse architectural heritage.' Events inside the Community Centre throughout the duration of the Biennale Architettura 2025 will focus on traditional Qatari forms of welcome, including the serving of coffee and dates on Saturdays and Sundays from 4 to 6 pm. At ACP-Palazzo Franchetti, the exhibition presents the work of more than 30 architects, including several who have not previously shown in Venice. Examining three generations of architects that have worked in the MENASA region, the exhibition features drawings, photographs, models, and important archival documentation. Through these materials, Beyti Beytak explores interconnected themes of community and belonging, organised into sections dedicated to the reinvention of the oasis, city housing, community centres, mosques, museums, and gardens. A section is also devoted to the architecture and urbanism of Doha, which includes several doors from the old city that have been restored with the support of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. Among the pioneering modern architects represented are Raj Rewal (India), Nayyar Ali Dada (Pakistan), Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil (Egypt), and Minnette de Silva (Sri Lanka). Their work is highlighted along with that of a range of contemporary designers and architects, including Marina Tabassum and Nabil Haque (Bangladesh), Sameep Padora [sP + A] and Balkrishna Doshi, Vastu-Shilpa Foundation (India), DAAZ Studio (Iran), Abeer Seikaly (Jordan), Sumaya Dabbagh (Saudi Arabia), Diller Scofidio + Renfrom (USA), Meriem Chabani with New South (France), among others. Beyti Beytak also reflects on the legacy of pioneering Egyptian architect and urbanist Hassan Fathy, whose work promoted social engagement while embracing vernacular forms, techniques, and materials. Aurélien Lemonier said, 'Conceived as a multidisciplinary institution devoted to art in all forms since 1850, the future Art Mill Museum will include architecture, design, and landscape architecture as core elements of its collections and programmes. Beyti Beytak is a testament to the richness of the MENASA region's architectural heritage and highlights the diversity and creativity of designers and architects from the Arab world and the Global South.' Sean Anderson said, 'Community and belonging are expressions that inform hospitality throughout the world today. As we witness the planet's transformations, mirrored by technology's drive toward a more collective yet divided future, Beyti Beytak responds to how architects and designers have imagined how we gather, where we reflect, and what we feel with and for each other.' The exhibition design explores the spatial possibilities of mesh, a ubiquitous architectural element found in many cultures around the world. The Beyti Beytak scientific committee is composed of Catherine Grenier, Ibrahim Jaidah, Yasmeen Lari, Hafid Rakem, and Raj Rewal.
