The photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

Two architecture students from Ajman University have beaten more than 50 participants from the country’s top universities to win the P&T Architecture Student Competition Awards.

Nahel Al Darwish and Abdelrahim Al Rinawi were adjudged joint winners of the Competition organized by the P&T Group to present affordable and desirable architectural ideas that will serve the current and futures youth needs of the UAE.

Saif Rashed Al Mazroui, representing the Minister of State for Higher Education & Advanced Skills, presented them a cash prize of Dhs10,000 prize, and internship opportunity with the P&T Group, the architecture and engineering firm which celebrated 150th Anniversary and 15 years in the UAE. Eight other competitors were also awarded honourable mentions in the challenge.

The competition provided an opportunity for future architects to present their talents and develop their careers. More than 50 participants from the country’s top universities, including the American University of Sharjah, Canadian University Dubai and Al Ghurair University had joined the challenge to present architectural ideas that suit to the current and future needs of UAE’s environment.

Shaikha Nahla Al Qassimi, Board  Member of the Society of Engineers, judged the awards alongwith DAFZA Senior Manager Ahmed Ali Al Mahmoud, RIBA Gulf Chair Sumaya Dabbagh and four of P&T members.  P&T Group partnered with their two organisations in support of 2021 Dubai Plan, 10X Dubai, Smart Dubai, Youth Hub, 2071 and Dewa 2050.

“The competition challenges architecture students to come up with creative designs that are appropriate to their time and place in history,” said Andrij Rostek, Director of P&T Group, ahead of the awards ceremony.

The statement was further reflected upon by Stephan Frantzen, Design Director at P&T adding that “The competition gives students in the UAE a chance to take an active part in the discussion about how to improve urban spaces between buildings and how we live in high-rise buildings.”

The evaluation criteria upon which the students were judged included form, function, innovation, environmental and sustainable solutions and presentation.

The winning design will be submitted by P&T Group to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Majlis, in their efforts to encourage designs that align with the country’s Smart City initiative, though the students will retain copyright over the ideas.