Riyadh’s Diriyah Biennale Foundation unveils participants for Al-Musalla Award
In an exciting announcement, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation revealed the names of the participants for this year’s Al-Musalla Award, an international architectural design competition part of the Islamic Arts Biennale. The event is set to take place in Jeddah from January to May 2025, showcasing the arts of Islamic civilization in a contemporary light, bridging the gap between its rich history and modern interpretations.
Focus on Islamic cultural architecture
The 2025 edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale will be held at the Western Pilgrims Hall at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, with a special emphasis on Islamic cultural architecture. This year, a new award is being introduced for the creation of a “musalla” – a small prayer space or mosque, inviting international architects to compete in designing this unique space on the biennale site.
Top architects selected to compete
The competition has attracted renowned architectural firms such as AAU Anastas Engineering Office from Palestine, Sahel Al-Hiyari from Jordan, East Architectural Studio from Lebanon and the UAE, Dabbagh Architectural Engineering from Saudi Arabia, and Asif Khan from the UK. These teams were chosen based on their expertise in Islamic art and architecture, and are required to submit innovative, sustainable designs that meet specific criteria.
Winner to be announced by judging committee
The winning design will be selected by the judging committee of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, led by Prince Nawaf bin Ayyaf. The award aims to encourage creativity and innovation in architectural design, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques to create a lasting landmark that inspires future generations.
Promoting creativity and innovation
The CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, Aya Al-Bakri, emphasized the importance of fostering innovation in line with the foundation’s mission. The Al-Musalla Award, in collaboration with the Abdul Latif Al-Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture, seeks to push the boundaries of mosque design and shape the identity of mosque architecture in the 21st century. The chosen design will be showcased to visitors from around the world during the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, promising an unforgettable experience for all.