Manama: The Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF), in collaboration with the College of Engineering at the University of Bahrain (UoB), has organized the Urban Design Competition, with the evaluation of student projects currently in progress under the supervision of the university's specialized committee. The competition is centered on the design of several of RHF's upcoming development projects.
According to Bahrain News Agency, participating students showcased their design models before a judging panel, adhering to key criteria that include creating multifunctional spaces that promote social cohesion within the urban environment, while focusing on social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and accessibility.
Ammar Sami Qambar, Humanitarian Affairs Advisor and Acting Director of Planning and Development at RHF, highlighted that the Urban Design Competition is an integral part of the Foundation's ongoing efforts to engage the community and empower youth to leverage their creative and academic skills in service to society. He pointed out that the competition allows students to apply their theoretical knowledge and gain hands-on experience in collaboration with professional and academic institutions.
He further mentioned that the competition aims to engage UoB students in designing RHF's future projects, setting the stage for their implementation as part of the Foundation's forthcoming development plans.
The competition's supervision was led by Dr. Wafa Al Ghatam, Chair of the Local and International Competition Committee at the university, and Dr. Noor Al Doy, Assistant Professor in Digital Learning for Industrial Design. The university appointed a team of academic mentors to guide the participating student teams, including Dr. Manal Khalaf, Dr. Wafa Al Ghatam, Dr. Hawra Al Shaikh, Dr. Fatima Al Hammadi, Dr. Osama Omar, and Maryam Al Bastaki.
The judging panel comprised Dr. Huda Al Madhoub, Assistant Professor in Project Management and Head of the Department of Architecture and Interior Design at the University of Bahrain; Dr. Mohammed Al-Kooheji, Associate Professor at Kingdom University, and Ahmed Mahjoubi, Urban Planner at Mohammed Salahuddin Consulting Engineering Bureau.