The Institut du Monde Arabe Awards its Very First Design Prize
Under the leadership of Jack Land, the Institut du Monde Arabe is launching its very first Design Awards, a prize that aims at honouring the richness and diversity of Arab cultures. Keeping in line with its founding tenet, that is, to highlight the talent and know-how of the Arab World, the Institute has decided to broaden its horizons and enter the world of design by awarding three prizes from a shortlist of fifteen candidates. Tradition and transmission were at the core of this event, enabling extraordinary, multicultural exchanges and giving the competing artists international exposure. This year’s competition was presided over by the brilliant architect, designer and scenographer India Mahdavi, who awarded the prizes on Wednesday 6. With the aim of supporting young designers, this year’s Emerging Talent Award went to Abdallah Al Mulla, for “Afternoon at the Souk”, November 2022, United Arab Emirates. The prize for entrepreneurial talent was awarded to Don Tanani, for “The Rebirth of Egyptian Design”, June 2023, Egypt. The Grand Prize went to Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty from Studio KO. The duo, based in Paris and Marrakech, take inspiration from the intelligence of places to create contemporary public and residential architecture around the world. Finally, an exceptional jury composed of Ammar Basheir, Jean-Pierre Blanc, Isis-Colombe Combréas, Asad Syrkett and Meriam Berrada crowned Nada Debs with the highly distinctive Grand Prix d’Honneur. Her Beirut-based studio spans scale and discipline: from product and furniture design to one-off commissions in the fields of craft, art, fashion and interiors. What binds her work together is her ability to distil culture and craft to create emotionally charged pieces. Attending the ceremony from the building’s rooftop, we saw Sonia Perrin, Alizée de Pioger, Annette Poehlmann, Elodie Bouffard, and Tony Chambers, among many others.
Photos: Michael Huard
