World Architecture Festival Awards
A Sharjah architecture practice will compete against the industry’s biggest names.
By Helen Jones
The World Architecture Festival unveiled the shortlist for its annual awards in July ahead of an event in Lisbon from November 30 to December 2 when those selected will compete live for awards in 43 categories. The awards programme is one of the most prestigious prizes in architecture and is judged by the industry’s biggest names.
The 420-strong shortlist was selected from entries from over 50 countries, including Mexico, Finland, Turkey, the UK, Australia and Japan. It includes some of the most respected names in architecture, among them Foster + Partners, Zaha Hadid Architects, Studio Gang, Nikken Sekkei and Mecanoo.
Shape Architecture Practice and Research, a Sharjah-based studio founded by architect Abdulla Al-Shamsi, made the shortlist. The studio completed the landmark Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, at the heart of the city’s diplomatic district, in August 2021, and will compete in the category Completed Buildings-Higher Education and Research.
“We are delighted that an Emirati owned and run architecture and design business can achieve recognition at a global level,” says Al-Shamsi, the lead architect on the project. “It shows the value of research and practice working hand in hand to achieve such a building.”
The institution was conceived to support the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in educating the next generation of diplomats and government leaders. As such, it was important that the design be rooted in Arab culture and tradition. This led to the creation of an introverted building, with the play of outer opacity and internal transparency serving as a major motif.
But at the same time, diplomacy demands an openness to the world. This was expressed through large, welcoming glazed portals on either side of the simple cubic form and the many communal and collaborative spaces. In marked contrast to the fenced embassies in the vicinity, the site is borderless, delineated instead by native landscaping.
The building has been designed to address the harsh climate. A double-skin façade comprises a high-performance glazing system, which serves as a first defence against solar heat gain, and an outer skin of perforated aluminium screens, which diffuse sunlight throughout the interior without obstructing views. Each side of the building is encapsulated by different panel fold patterns, creating a unique rhythm of shadow and light that evolves throughout the day.
Inside, minimalism, natural light and soothing linear patterns offer clarity and serenity. An expansive central atrium connects every level. Wood-clad staircases wrap around the outer edges of the central atrium, encouraging movement and drawing the eye upward.
Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi courtesy of Shape: Phil Handforth
