Abwab, meaning 'doors' in Arabic, is a programme that supports practitioners from the South West Asian and North African (SWANA) region through the commissioning of installations or pavilions which, each year, are thematically remodelled to reflect timely global and regional contexts.
To date, over 180 designers from across the region have participated in Abwab, representing a range of countries including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the UAE.
The 2023 Abwab commission ‘Of Palm’, by Emirati architect Abdalla Almulla is one of the recipients of the 2024 Monocle Design Awards, a global prize celebrating the most inspiring and ingenious products, models and structures and the people who conceive them.
2024 Open Call
For the 2024 edition, Abwab invites practitioners and creatives to submit proposals for installations that present practical solutions, experimental ideas or theoretical insights that address the theme of vernacular architecture and how it can inform regenerative design.
Vernacular architecture is characterized by the use of local materials, climate-responsive techniques, traditions and community-centric designs that are deeply rooted in local environments and culture.
By drawing on these principles and intersecting this with pioneering innovations and new techniques, applicants can present installations which demonstrate how time-honoured architectural methods can adapt and contribute to regenerative design and the development of built environments that are not only self-sustaining, but also foster ecological restoration and cultural continuity.
Cross-disciplinary collaborations are welcome which combine diverse backgrounds, practices and knowledge to better our shared future.
Budget
A grant of AED 300,000 will help support up to five winning proposals with production costs.
Submission Process
Applicants are required to complete the submission form below which requires providing essential information and the following documents:
Selection Process
Winning proposals will be selected by a jury panel of experts in the design field who will grade proposals based on the predefined criteria, originality of the design and relevance to the open call's theme.
Criteria & Conditions
The proposal must:
The applicant must:
For inquiries, please contact us at [email protected].
Create your own programme and select your interests and favoutires
You are using outdated browser, Please use Modern browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox or atleast Edge.
For better web experience, please use the website in portrait mode