Visionary Architect Takes Centre Stage
Calling the work “an intimate and responsive connection between the architect and the community,” the judges of the 2022 David Azrieli Architecture Student Prize awarded first prize to a student who offered a solution to a real-world problem – right in her own backyard.
That student is Lobna Sana of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem, whose “(Un) Recognized Villages” addressed the lack of infrastructure in many Bedouin villages in the Negev desert (such as her own). Her piece put forward an architectural methodology to create an independent local architectural system and empower the communities.
“Lobna created an extremely well-designed solution, based on her traditions, heritage and innovative intelligence,” says Danna Azrieli, Co-Chair of the Azrieli Foundation Israel. “Her approach to the design was written in her native language of Arabic, her goal was to benefit individuals in her village, and it was clear that her purpose comes from her heart.”
Now entering its 20th year, the annual David Azrieli Architecture Student Prize highlights the best work of students from Israel’s six schools of architecture. Named after the late David Azrieli, an architect, entrepreneur and philanthropist who left an indelible mark on the urban landscapes of Israel and Canada, the prize promotes the next generation of architects and supports creativity, originality and quality in architectural design.
Second prize went to Guy Peretz for “Nesher 2.0,” which looked at the revival of an abandoned factory by reusing material from several existing structures; third prize went to Tom Weil for “Living Desert,” which highlights desert sustainability with a view toward climate change.
The David Azrieli Architecture Student Prize focuses on Israel’s young architects at an important milestone in their professional lives, when theory and practice converge. Over the years, it has become an integral part of architecture education in Israel.
