For RIBA Cityscape Intelligence Sketchbook – Culturally Significant Vernacular Architecture in the Gulf competition, the RIBA and Cityscape Intelligence hosted a one-hour live sketching event with the competition's winner. The event was open to the entire Gulf audience to watch (United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman) and aimed to delve deeper into why hand-drawing is a vital part of architects' creative processes.
During the live-stream the winner recreated their winning sketch, while reflecting on and discussing its subject and the techniques and medium used. They also highlighted the commonalities and differences in vernacular architecture in the Gulf region.
RIBA and Cityscape Intelligence also announced and displayed the shortlisted sketches for the Gulf audience to view along with a question and answer session. Watch the full recording of the event below, and see the winning and shortlisted sketches.
The RIBA would like to thank our esteemed judges once again for being a part of this successful event.
- Chris Williamson - Head Judge, Founder WestonWilliamson+Partners, Past RIBA International Vice President, visiting Professor at East London University, Project Manager, and a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute
- Shaikha Azzam - Founder and Partner Merchants Park Architecture, Senior Architect at the Dubai Land Department, Team leader at Property Survey Dubai
- Dr. Fodil Fadli - Architect, Designer, Academic, Head of Department of Architecture & Urban Planning at Qatar University, and recipient of several R&DI grants
Wael Al Masri – Winner of RIBA Cityscape Intelligence Sketchbook Competition from Jordan
Sketch Title: A Passage from “The Heart of Sharjah”
Reflecting the limited resources and local building materials in the region before oil; vernacular architecture in the Gulf is characterized by being simple and humble. Exceptions to this rather austere building character, can be found occasionally in the relatively more ornate wind towers penetrating the horizontal skyline of old Gulf cities. These vertical elements which are scattered over the rooftops, can be found especially in the traditional architecture of the United Arab Emirates, and have become distinguished icons of its architecture and identity in general.
Atef Khedhir - Second Place in RIBA Cityscape Intelligence Sketchbook Competition from Sultanate of Oman
Sketch Title: Old Nizwa Oman
The sketch board represents the layout of the room in which I stayed in the Old Nizwa. It is a 200 years old renovated house. The sketch shows as well the street in front of the hotel and the light that penetrates in between the narrow streets.
Mohammad Majid Yunus - Shared Second Place in RIBA Cityscape Intelligence Sketchbook Competition from the United Arab Emirates
Sketch Title: Bastakiya Dubai
Dubai has rich vernacular architecture and Bastakiya area is well preserved and excellent example of local Vernacular architecture. The key features of this style of architecture are Wind Catchers, which helped in natural ventilation and created convection cycles in the indoors which facilitated cold air inflow and hot air escape.
Heba Tannous – Third Place in RIBA Cityscape Intelligence Sketchbook Competition from Qatar
Sketch Title: Al Khor Mosque
Just around the corner from the modern glass skyscraper of Qatar are traces of the country’s past. The early mosques in Qatar were traditionally uncomplicated and consisted of a simple architectural design. Unfortunately, the few that are left are mostly left forgotten, abandoned, or waiting to be demolished. This sketch aims to celebrate one of the still-functioning early mosques found in Al-Khor, Qatar.
