Latest news with #AbdulMateen
Mid East Info
12-03-2025
- General
- Mid East Info
AUS architecture students celebrate wins at the World Architecture Awards - Middle East Business News and Information
Four architecture students from American University of Sharjah (AUS) were recently recognized for their outstanding design projects at the World Architecture Awards. Competing in teams of two, the students were thrilled to see their projects selected for the 'Student Award Winning Architecture Projects' category. The winning projects, 'Weaving Nizwa' and 'Reviving Old Cairo,' were conceptualized and designed by Abdul Mateen and Rouqaya Al-Mufti, and Lamya Ahmed and Rawan Khedr, respectively. Developed as part of Professor Igor Peraza's Architectural Design Studio—a course that challenged fourth-year students to apply their education to complex architectural challenges—the projects demonstrate their ability to integrate design innovation with cultural and environmental sensitivity. Professor Igor Peraza explained: 'These projects were developed in a studio focused on strategies for architectural regeneration. The challenge for the students was to create an architectural project for ArCHIAM, a center dedicated to the study of architecture and cultural heritage from India, Arabia and the Maghreb, serving international researchers across various disciplines. Students were tasked with choosing a geographic location for the center, as well as defining its architecture program and size. Ultimately, their designs explore how human culture and social practices are reflected in space, and how space, in turn, shapes the cultural practices of communities and groups.' 'Weaving Nizwa' designed by Abdul Mateen and Rouqaya Al-Mufti, is a cutting-edge design for the ArCHIAM Research Center. It rethinks current approaches to architectural preservation by cleverly integrating modern elements within existing historical ruins in Nizwa, Oman across a 3,000 sqm site. Footbridges and a stepped garden, inspired by Nizwa's weaving traditions and the Aflaj irrigation system, link the old and new structures, helping to create a meaningful connection between past and present. The project also incorporates sustainable design strategies, including a fabric shading system to reduce heat, vernacular materials to lower the carbon footprint and a water-efficient irrigation system to enhance cooling and greenery. The second project, 'Reviving Old Cairo , ' was designed by Lamya Ahmed and Rawan Khedr. It transforms a neglected 1,620 sqm site in medieval Cairo into a research center and public plaza. Adjacent to the House of Jamal al-Din al-Dahabi, a prominent 17th-century Egyptian merchant who served as the chief of Cairo's gold merchants' guild, the design draws visitors inward from Al-Azhar Street through pathways that help draw in people and revitalize the area. Ultimately, the project is not only about restoring a historical site, it is also about creating a new sense of life and identity in a quiet corner of historic Cairo. 'Winning this award is an incredible honor. It has truly highlighted how the lessons I have absorbed over the past three years at CAAD have refined my skills and broadened my perspective, pushing me to innovate and think beyond conventional design limits. It is also incredibly rewarding for both our teams to receive an award that recognizes how our design vision for the ArCHIAM Research Center in Nizwa and Cairo successfully honors both the past and the future,' said Abdul Mateen. The Dean of CAAD, Dr. Varkki Pallathucheril, said, 'Architecture must respond to its social and cultural context. Seeing our students gain recognition from the World Architecture Awards for skillfully and sensitively addressing this relationship is hugely gratifying. At CAAD, we have exceptional teachers and scholars who engage with students striving to excel. I congratulate Professor Peraza and his students on this fantastic achievement.' The World Architecture Awards began in 2006 and celebrate remarkable projects from around the world with the potential to inspire contemporary architectural discourse. This is the 49th cycle of the awards, which aim to shed light on projects from around the world, and notably those from regions not typically covered in the mainstream architecture press. AUS is ranked number one in the UAE and among the top 200 universities globally for the subject area of architecture and the built environment (QS World University Rankings 2024).
Arab News
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Jordanian crown prince meets prince of Brunei in London
LONDON: Crown Prince of Jordan Hussein bin Abdullah and his wife, Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein, met with Prince of Brunei Abdul Mateen and his wife, Princess Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah, in London on Tuesday. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Al-Hussein and Abdul Mateen trained at the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst in south England. Al-Hussein posted a photo with Abdul Mateen from London on his Instagram account. In the image, Princess Rajwa wore a stylish all-black outfit, while Princess Anisha was dressed in a pale blue tweed blazer and black trousers. Mateen, 33, and Anisha Rosnah, 30, tied the knot in a lavish wedding in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, in January 2024. Mateen is the 10th child and fourth son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the world's longest-reigning monarch and once the richest man on the planet. Because of his position in the family, Mateen is unlikely to ever ascend to the throne. Al-Hussien, 30, and Rajwa, 30, married in June 2023. The royal couple welcomed a baby daughter, Princess Iman, last August. Prince Al-Hussein is the heir to the throne of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He is the eldest son of King Abdullah and Queen Rania Al-Abdullah. This week, he is visiting London, where he met with William, Prince of Wales, at Windsor Castle on Monday.
