Moroccan engineer Aziza Chaouni wins Arab World Design Institute award
Heba Press
The Arab World Institute has revealed the names of the winners of its 2024 Design Award, including Moroccan architect Aziza Chaouni, for her prototype of a “sustainable earthquake-proof house” developed by her office.
The architect, who designed his project in the context of the Al Haouz earthquake, won this award in the “Impact” category, because his Design Office (ACP) demonstrated “its ability to produce and develop projects through social and economic commitment.”
She said in a message read on her behalf at yesterday’s award ceremony where the winners were announced: “The project we submitted for this award is considered a prototype of a house built of compressed earth bricks, durable and earthquake-resistant, for residents affected by the earthquake, in order to empower them. Decent, comfortable and safe housing that can be built on a small budget and quickly.
On this occasion, Aziza Al-Shaouni expressed her “feeling of pride in receiving this award, which she dedicates to all the victims of the earthquake of September 8, 2023, as well as to the volunteers who worked on this project.”
She stressed that the development of this prototype was carried out in cooperation with the Moroccan authorities, within the framework of volunteering through a process of research on local construction techniques and joint design with the concerned inhabitants of the village of Trois Niqoub, including children, women, men and young people.
She explained that the result of this research was “an expandable and modular house composed of 3 courtyards, built with compressed Lego bricks without the use of mortar and equipped for wastewater treatment.”
The architect, who places architectural practice at the heart of his professional and academic approach as a tool for social and civil action, continued: “The earthquake disaster has spread an unprecedented surge of solidarity in the Kingdom, and this sustainable house is the result of that.”
His team is now working to transfer the lessons learned from the prototype house to a new project in Al Haouz. The project, called “House of Stars” and supervised by the non-governmental organization “Amal Biladi,” aims to serve as a community center for children and youth in the village of Tajkalt, which was also damaged by the earthquake.
It is worth noting that Aziza Al-Shaouni, a professor of architecture at the University of Toronto, founded her design office in 2011, specializing in sustainable architecture, urban design and construction.
Since the creation of this office, headquartered in Fez, Aziza Chaouni has carried out numerous projects, including the rehabilitation of historic buildings, alternative reuse and the construction of new buildings, all developed in collaboration with local artisans.
The Arab World Design Institute Award, established in 2023, aims to highlight emerging and distinguished designers from the Arab world, with the aim of showcasing their skills and genius in creating new materials.
The jury of the award includes eminent personalities and its second session was chaired by Lebanese designer Nada Debs. It is awarded to designers from the Arab world in the categories of “Rising Talent”, “Proven Talent” and “Influence Award”. in addition to the “Jury Prize”.
It should be noted that an exhibition dedicated to the selected candidates and winners will be organized until September 15, 2024, in the space of the Arab World Institute.
