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The Qatar Society of Engineers has launched the inaugural Qatar Architecture Award 2026, establishing a national platform to promote architectural excellence and innovation, empower local talent and advance sustainable solutions tailored to the needs of Qatari families.The inaugural edition focuses on the design of a residential villa that meets the modern requirements of the Qatari family, taking into account the State's latest building regulations and seeking innovative, practical designs that can be realistically implemented.The announcement was made at a press conference, where the Society said the competition is open to two main categories. The first is for individual architects, engineers and designers who are Qatari nationals or residents of Qatar, while the second is reserved for officially licensed and accredited Qatari architectural consulting firms.Eng. Amna Mohammed Al Naama, Chairperson of the Qatar Society of Engineers, said the launch reflects the Society's commitment, together with its partners, to supporting initiatives that contribute to Qatar's urban and development landscape.She said the initiative builds on national efforts to enhance the quality and sustainability of the built environment and support the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030."Architecture is not merely buildings and static designs; it is an expression of national identity and a reflection of society's culture and needs," Al Naama said, stressing that the theme of the inaugural edition -- designing a Qatari residential villa -- was chosen because of its direct relevance to the lives of Qatari families and citizens. She said the award seeks to generate innovative and practical architectural and engineering solutions that can be implemented on the ground, while taking into account modern building requirements and striking a balance between Qatar's architectural identity, sustainability standards and economic efficiency.The designs must also remain within the QR 1.2 million ceiling of the government housing loan, she added.The award offers total prize money of QR 180,000, to be distributed among the winners. Outstanding entries will also be published and showcased during Qatari Engineers Day on January 25, with the possibility of developing selected designs in cooperation with relevant authorities.Al Naama called on engineering professionals, national firms and designers to take part in the competition and contribute their ideas and expertise to enriching Qatar's architectural landscape. Eng. Mubarak Mahboob Al Nuaimi, Director of Licensing and Training Affairs at the Real Estate Regulatory Authority - Aqarat, said the launch reflects growing interest in developing Qatar's architectural and urban landscape and fostering a culture of creativity and innovation in the sector. He described the Qatar Architecture Award as a platform that celebrates architectural and engineering excellence, highlights talent and expertise, and encourages designs and urban solutions that combine authenticity, innovation and sustainability.Al Nuaimi announced Aqarat's official sponsorship of the award, reaffirming the Authority's role in regulating and developing Qatar's real estate sector and supporting initiatives aimed at raising the quality of real estate projects and promoting professional standards, sustainability and innovation.He said the partnership would encourage professionals and specialists to put forward innovative ideas that enrich Qatar's architectural landscape while reflecting the country's identity, values and future aspirations.Noura Al Qubaisi, Director of Communications and Public Relations at Msheireb Properties, said advancing the architectural sector requires broad cooperation among government entities, consulting firms and academia, as well as an environment that encourages the exchange of expertise.Against this backdrop, she said Msheireb Properties and Doha Design District were participating as strategic partners, reflecting their commitment to sustainable architecture, quality of life and national identity.In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Eng. Saud Abdullah Al Dulaimi, a board member and secretary of the Qatar Society of Engineers, said the award's primary objective was to generate innovative architectural ideas from engineers and accredited consulting firms in Qatar and create a pool of designs that could expand the options available to citizens planning to build their homes.He described the initiative as a strategic step toward supporting national talent in innovative architecture, noting that the choice of a residential villa for the Qatari family as the theme of the inaugural edition was driven by its direct connection to the lives of Qatari citizens.The competition, he said, is intended to produce practical engineering and architectural solutions that combine Qatar's architectural heritage with the requirements of contemporary life and can be implemented in real-world residential projects.Applications will remain open to eligible participants until early January 2027, with the winners to be announced and honored during the Qatari Engineer's Day celebrations, he said.All entries will be assessed under a robust governance framework designed to ensure integrity, transparency and equal opportunity, with an independent judging panel comprising leading academic and professional experts. (QNA)QNA 1144 GMT 2026/09/13

Qatar Museums is organising the ‘Architecture in the Old Palace’ forum today (May 10) at the Darwish al-Far Hall at the National Museum of Qatar. The forum will feature a distinguished group of experts, researchers, and those interested in the history of Qatari architecture and heritage. The forum is part of the museum’s efforts to re-highlight the Old Palace, one of Qatar’s most prominent historical landmarks. It will offer an in-depth look at the palace’s historical and architectural development, its political and social role in the country’s history, and its transformation into an integral part of the modern National Museum. The forum will address a range of specialised topics exploring the architectural characteristics of the Old Palace, reflecting traditional Qatari architecture, the building techniques used during that period, and the symbolic value it holds as a witness to significant stages in the country’s history and its political and cultural transformations. Participants will also discuss the role of the Old Palace in Qatari public life, as a historical headquarters associated with the administration of the country’s affairs in earlier periods, before it later transformed into a cultural and heritage landmark housed within the National Museum. This transformation aligns with the museum’s vision of preserving national memory and promoting awareness of Qatar’s history and heritage. The forum will be conducted in Arabic with translation provided for attendees, allowing for broader participation from diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds, and fostering the exchange of knowledge about the palace’s history and its architectural and heritage significance. The forum targets a diverse audience, including those interested in the history of the Old Palace, architecture and Qatari history students, historians, and researchers in architectural heritage. It provides a space for dialogue and the exchange of perspectives on the importance of preserving historical buildings as part of the national identity and cultural memory of the community. Through its themes and discussion sessions, the forum emphasises the importance of documenting the story of the Old Palace and passing it on to future generations, especially given the building’s historical and architectural value, which is linked to the development of the country and the cultural landscape of Qatar. The Old Palace is one of the key elements upon which the idea of the Qatar National Museum was based, as it was incorporated into the modern architectural design of the museum, to remain a living witness to the history of the country, and a bridge linking the past and the present in a cultural experience that reflects the development of Qatari identity over time. 

Chile's Smiljan Radic Clarke, whose modern buildings can sometimes appear "deliberately unfinished," is the recipient of this year's Pritzker Prize, considered the Nobel of architecture, organisers announced Thursday.The 60-year-old Radic, a native of Santiago, creates "optimistic and quietly joyful" structures, the jury said in its citation.Radic is best known for his Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London — a translucent donut-shaped fibreglass shell resting on locally sourced rocks — and the Vik Millahue Winery in his home country, set among the Andes mountains and the vineyards.The Teatro Regional del Biobio in Concepcion, Chile resembles a paper lantern."If architecture gives shape to the ways in which people live, Radic's work produces spatial experiences that feel at once surprising and entirely natural," the Pritzker jury said."His buildings may appear temporary, unstable, or deliberately unfinished — almost on the point of disappearance — yet they provide a structured, optimistic and quietly joyful shelter, embracing vulnerability as an intrinsic condition of lived experience."The panel hailed Radic — who has created buildings and installations across Europe and at home in Chile — for "reminding us that architecture is an art."First awarded in 1979 to modernist Philip Johnson, the Pritzker Prize has honoured many of the profession's most influential figures including IM Pei, Oscar Niemeyer, Frank Gehry, Rem Koolhaas and Zaha Hadid.It honours a living architect for "significant achievement" in the field.Last year's award went to China's Liu Jiakun, who lives and works in his birth city of Chengdu. His projects — known for their minimalism and use of designs that fit local context — include the Museum of Clocks in that city. 

The Qatar Chamber (QC) held on Tuesday the Qatari-Hungarian Business Meeting. The meeting was co-chaired by Mohamed bin Mahdi Al Ahbabi, QC Board Member, and Viktor Dombi, Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Region at the Foreign Economic Affairs Committee of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His Excellency Eng. Ali bin Abdullatif Al Misnad, QC Board Member, also attended the meeting.Discussions focused on enhancing trade and economic relations between Qatar and Hungary, as well as exploring potential areas for cooperation and partnership between Qatari and Hungarian business communities, particularly in the sectors of construction, building materials, interior design, 3D architecture, smart furniture, digital architecture, and AI.Mohamed Al Ahbabi affirmed that the State of Qatar and the Republic of Hungary enjoy well-established relations across various fields, particularly in the economic and commercial domains. He noted that the volume of trade exchange between both countries reached about QR 375 million in 2024, highlighting the presence of several Hungarian companies operating in Qatar across diverse sectors, and the existence of numerous agreements signed between both nations in various fields.He emphasised that there is great potential for the private sectors of both countries to strengthen cooperation by establishing trade and investment partnerships that serve their mutual economic interests and help increase bilateral trade. He pointed out that there are many promising investment opportunities available in several economic sectors, especially those represented by the visiting delegation, including engineering, design, and construction.Al Ahbabi further noted that Qatar has developed an attractive investment environment in recent years, supported by modern legislation, world-class infrastructure, and incentives offered to foreign investors. These factors, he said, have made Qatar a preferred destination for international companies seeking stability and growth in the region.He invited the Hungarian business community to explore the vast opportunities offered by the Qatari market, particularly in industry, food security, tourism, renewable energy, technology, and logistics, among other promising sectors.His Excellency Eng. Ali Al Misnad affirmed that the Qatar Chamber welcomes cooperation between Qatari business owners and their Hungarian counterparts, noting the mutual interest of both sides in further developing their relations and expanding cooperation across various sectors, which will contribute to enhancing mutual investments and stimulating the volume of trade exchange.In turn, Viktor Dombi affirmed that Qatar has become a regional model of innovation and sustainability, praising the role of the Qatar Chamber in strengthening cooperation with the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and in promoting relations between the Qatari and Hungarian private sectors.Dombi highlighted the great potential and broad prospects for cooperation between companies from both sides across numerous sectors. He stressed the Hungarian side's commitment to supporting available cooperation opportunities and to overcoming any challenges that may hinder their development.He also expressed the Hungarian side's support for all initiatives aimed at enhancing partnerships between Qatari and Hungarian investors in fields such as agriculture, financial technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cosmetics, medical tourism, water management, and research.