Abu dhabi: The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), in collaboration with CRATerre, has announced the winners of the Terra Landscape Architectural Award. This international accolade recognises projects that showcase the use of earthen materials to strengthen the relationship between the environment, culture, and territory.
According to Emirates News Agency, the award was launched by CRAterre under the UNESCO Chair for Earthen Architecture as part of TERRA 2027 - World Congress on Earthen Architecture. Co-organised by DCT Abu Dhabi and ICOMOS ISCEAH, TERRA 2027 marks a historic milestone as the first edition of this globally recognised Congress to be hosted in the Arab region.
An international jury reviewed submissions, and following an initial evaluation phase, 20 projects were shortlisted across three thematic categories. The winners in each category reflect distinct approaches to the relationship between earthen architecture and landscape.
In the 'Dialogue with Existing Cultural Landscape' category, the first prize went to Studio Salima Naji Architects for the Living Heritage Centre in Tiznit Medina, Morocco. The project was recognised for its integration within a heritage setting, highlighting the diversity of earthen building cultures in Southern Morocco. The second prize was awarded to Studio M©diterran©e and Studio Mumbai for the Renovation and Extension of the Chateau de Beaucastel in Courth©zon, France, which features extensive use of pis© (rammed earth).
In the 'Integration into the Natural Site' category, the first prize was awarded to Fausto Cardoso Martnez, Stephanie Suter, Jos© Uzho, and Manuel Campoverde for La Casa de Las Rocas in Susudel, Ecuador. The project was praised for its sensitive integration into the landscape and its intelligent use of local resources. Prabal Thapa Architects received the second prize for Kopila Valley School in Surkhet, Nepal, recognised for its response to topography and structured rammed earth walls.
In the 'Celebrating Local Resources and Know-how' category, ZRS Architekten won the first prize for the Healing Garden | Therapy Centre for Women and Children in Chamchamal, Kurdistan-Iraq. The project was recognised for its combination of simplicity and sophistication in design. The second prize went to MASS and Arup for the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture in Gashora, Rwanda. Atelier TANKA and Architectes Sans Fronti¨res France received the third prize for LMHS School and Dormitory in Zanskar, India.
Several special mentions were awarded to projects distinguished by their engagement with local communities and participatory building processes, including Pahariapara School in Bangladesh, Joo Amazonas Socio-Environmental Center in Brazil, and Jean Rostand School Lunchroom in France.
DCT Abu Dhabi will invite the award winners to present their projects during the TERRA congress gala dinner and Award Ceremony in April 2027. The winners will also participate in a round-table discussion with jury members and experts on the future of earthen architecture.
The global call for applications attracted 73 submissions from 27 countries. TERRA 2027 will take place in Al Ain, UAE, focusing on managing earthen cultural landscapes and aiming to strengthen international cooperation and knowledge-sharing in earthen architecture and conservation practices.
