Abwab
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.
2024 Theme
For the 2024 edition, Abwab called for proposals exploring vernacular architecture’s role in regenerative design through practical solutions, experimental concepts, or theoretical insights. 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.
2024 Winner
This year’s winning projects include Ola Saad Znad’s ‘A Present/ Absent Mudhif’, Miriam Hillawi Abraham’s ‘Material Witnesses and Narrating Lifeforms’ and ‘ReRoot’ by Dima Al Srouri, Dalia Hamati, Andy Cartier and Rosa Hamalainen.
A Present/ Absent Mudhif, Ola Saad Znad
Ola Saad Znad's installation, A Present/Absent Mudhif, highlights the architectural heritage of Iraq's Marsh Arabs. Built from locally sourced reeds and mud, it reflects the traditional structures that have sustained these communities for generations. The fragmented design, however, symbolizes the severe impact of water depletion on the once-vibrant marshlands. Znad reimagines the Mudhif as an open, inclusive space, emphasizing the use of sustainable materials and the deep cultural significance of traditional techniques.
Material Witnesses and Narrating Lifeforms, Miriam Hillawi Abraham
Miriam Hillawi Abraham presents Material Witnesses and Narrating Lifeforms, an installation that draws inspiration from the "coral stone" found in early settlements on the East African coast and the UAE. Instead of viewing coral as a static material, Abraham explores its living, dynamic nature, creating a space that reflects the interconnectedness of human and non-human life, as well as themes of decay and planetary existence. By using natural materials like wax, tulle, and Epsom salt, she evokes the concepts of temporality and transformation.
ReRoot, Dima Al Srouri, Dalia Hamati, Andy Cartier and Rosa Hamalainen
ReRoot explores emergency housing solutions through an ecological lens. By using palm waste and mycelium, a material derived from fungi, the team developed an emergency housing unit that empowers communities to build their own homes sustainably. The design revives the idea of community-centric construction, with a focus on ecological restoration and cultural adaptation.