UoB Students Design a Monument Featuring Bahrain’s Historical Landmarks 

Prof. Hamzah: Collaborative Competitions Contribute to the Development of Students’ Creative Work 

UoB Students Design a Monument Featuring Bahrain’s Historical Landmarks 

 

The President of the University of Bahrain (UoB), Prof. Riyad Yousif Hamzah, stated that community partnership is highly crucial to achieving the Kingdom’s visions for future leadership, noting the roles played by the students and graduates of UoB in highlighting the cultural and historical landmarks in the various collaborative competitions organized by the Department of Architecture and Interior Design at the College of Engineering. 

This came in a speech given by the President of the University during a closing ceremony held by the Department of Architecture and Interior Design at the University for the winning students of the “Jusoor” competition for the best design of a monument, which was organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning. 

Also,  Dr. Hamzah praised the winning projects in the “Jusoor” competition, which aims to design a cultural landmark for the Kingdom’s bridges, so that these designs reflect the cultural dimension and the historical legacy of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Stressing that the participation of the students of the Department of Architecture from its three programs ( Architecture, Interior Design, and Environmental Architecture) in this design competition, which is sponsored by Riyada Investment Group, contributes to the process of developing innovation and creative work for students. 

At the conclusion of his speech in the event held through a teleconference, Dr. Hamzah stated: “We at the University of Bahrain value the role of community partnership, and we seek to sustain this partnership in a way that serves the educational process, and in line with the goals of sustainable development.” And extended his thanks to the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Development, and Riyada Investment Group. 

For his part, the Dean of the College of Engineering, Dr. Fuad Mohammed Al-Ansari, indicated that the students’ work was voluntary and not obligatory, in which the students of the Department of Architecture and Interior Design with the Department’s graduates participated. Stressing that it featured several aesthetic and service dimensions, in addition to the historical and cultural values they reflect. 

The idea of ​​“Jusoor” competition came to create monuments or landmark buildings near the distinguished sites, in order to introduce them and their history, close to bridges and by the entrances to villages and other areas. 

Furthermore, Dr. Al-Ansari explained “The creative competition showed us the beauty of Bahrain by the hands of the rising generation of engineers, in addition to familiarizing us with part of the Kingdom’s culture and history”, extending his thanks to all the participants, arbitrators, organizers and sponsors. 

Several bridges and streets were chosen as places for the monuments, namely: Sheikh Isa bin Salman Bridge, Sheikh Hamad Bridge, Sheikh Khalifa Bridge, Sheikh Salman Street, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Street, and Salman City Bridge. 

Also, Faculty member in the Department of Architecture and Interior Design, Layla Krajica, reviewed the themes of the monuments, their locations, and their symbolic connotations, in addition to the design elements that students employed in their projects. 

While the Head of the Department of Architecture and Design, Dr. Sheikha Haifa bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa, praised the event and said that it is as an opportunity for students to showcase their talents and creativity, noting that the Department has organized three student competitions since the beginning of the academic year, believing in the importance of these events in developing students’ skills. 

Furthermore, she expressed her admiration for the level of development in the competing designs, stressing that all designs are feasible, and it is expected that they will be presented to the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, and the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities. 

The first prize went to the contestant Adnan Hansia, while the second place was won by a team consisting of: Aisha Hameed, Penscal Pascal and Monica Vishwakarma, and the third place went to the contestant Haneen Al-Tahmazi. 

Some students expressed their opinions and experiences in entering the competition and its benefits, and the importance of such competitions in refining the students’ experiences and skills, thanking the organizing and supporting bodies for providing such opportunity. 

At the end of the event, a member of the organizing committee, Afaf Ebrahim, reviewed the steps for evaluating and judging the projects participating in the competition, noting that the jury relied on high technical and professional standards to evaluate the projects, most of which were distinguished and creative. 

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