Baghdad: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, in conjunction with the International Centre for Earth Architecture (CRAterre), has revealed the winners of the ‘Terra Landscape and Earth Architecture Award.’ This international accolade celebrates projects that demonstrate how earth architecture can enhance the relationship between the environment, culture, and geographical surroundings.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the award was initiated by CRAterre under the auspices of UNESCO’s Department of Earth Architecture, as a part of the ‘Terra 2027’ World Earth Architecture Conference. This significant event is organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the International Scientific Committee for Earth Architecture Heritage. Notably, ‘Terra 2027’ marks a historic occasion, as it is the first time this prestigious international conference is being held in the Arab region. An international jury conducted the evaluation process, resulting in 20 shortlisted projects across three thematic categories. Each winning project exemplifies a unique vision of the synergy between earth architecture and landscapes.
The judging panel also extended several special recognition prizes to projects that demonstrated a strong engagement with local communities, adopted a collaborative design approach, and utilized participatory construction methods. These aspects were crucial in distinguishing these projects from others.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi will host the winners, providing an opportunity to showcase their groundbreaking projects at the Terra 2027 Global Earth Architecture Conference. The official dinner and awards ceremony are set to take place in April 2027, providing a platform for these innovative projects to be celebrated on a global stage.
The Terra Landscape and Earth Architecture Award garnered 73 entries from 27 countries spanning all continents. Interestingly, Category 3 attracted the highest number of submissions, with 45 projects, while Categories 1 and 2 each received 14 project entries.