Shereen Sherzad Wins the 2014 Tamayouz Women in Architecture and Construction Award

Winner of the Tamayouz Women in Architecture and Construction Award - Shereen Sherzad

Angela Brady, Architect and Past President of the Royal Institute of British Architects RIBA, announced the results of the judging panel for the 2nd annual “Tamayouz Women in Architecture and Construction Award”. 

The prestigious judging panel of Tamayouz Women in Architecture and Construction Award comprises of:  Angela Brady, Architect and Past President of the RIBA, Clare Devine, Director of the Architecture and Built Environment CABE at the Design Council, Jane Duncan, Architect and President Elect of the RIBA and Ali Grehan, Dublin City Architect. 

The Judging Panel’s selection for the Tamayouz Women of Achievements Award is Shereen Sherzad, architect, academic and planner, she taught architecture at the Baghdad School of Architecture from 1980 until 2003.  She was the Director of the Higher Commission for the Revitalisation of the Erbil Citadel from 2008 – 2010, the commission worked in collaboration with the UNESCO in preparation for the

citadel master plan and earlier this year the Erbil Citadel project gained World Heritage Status.  Sherzad is the author of four architecture textbooks, used as references and teaching materials in Iraqi and other Arab schools of Architecture.

The Prize for the Young Woman Architect – The Rising Star is awarded to Venus Akef, an award winning aspiring architect and academic at the University of Technology in Baghdad, focusing on architectural heritage and the cultural identity.  Currently she is studying for a PhD at the University of Cincinnati.

This year the judging panel decided to make a Special Commemorative Award to Neda Al-Juboory, an outstanding community architect who engaged at local level and inspired all those who came in contact with her.  In 2007 Neda Al-Juboory, the Director of Urban Planning at the Ministry of Municipalities was killed in a car bomb explosion at her work place during a ceremony celebrating her outstanding achievements.  This special award is for the family and friends of the Late Neda Al-Juboory.

Winner of the Young Woman Architect – The Rising Star award - Venus Akef

A Special Commemorative Award to the Late Neda Al-Juboory

Ahmed Al-Mallak, Founder of the Tamayouz Excellence Award said:
“It gives us great pleasure to announce the winners of Tamayouz Women in Architecture and Construction Award, both Shereen Sherzad and Venus Akef are still making outstanding contributions to the profession of architecture in Iraq and it is important to show the commitment and sacrifices Iraqi women are making and this is portrayed by the commitment of the Late Neda Al-Juboory who was killed during a ceremony where she was supposed to receive a prize for her excellent work.  Women in Iraq are doing fantastic jobs and we will continue to highlight their efforts.”

Tamayouz Women in Architecture and Construction Award was established in 2012 the first award of its kind in the Middle East,  this award is part of the Tamayouz Excellence Award – The Iraqi Architecture Prize.

Tamayouz Women in Architecture and Construction Award is Iraq’s most coveted architectural prize, it aims to recognise the outstanding achievements of Iraqi Women Architects, promote role models for young Iraqi women and to encourage skilled women to challenge themselves to explore careers within traditionally male dominate professions rather than remain in ones which appear more female friendly.

It is worth mentioning that Dr Jala Makhzoumi the Associate Dean and the founder of the Landscape Faculty at the American University in Beirut won the First Tamayouz Women in Architecture and Construction award in 2013 in addition to four outstanding women architects were selected to receive special.  The 2013 Winner announcement

Tamayouz Excellence Award is sponsored by:

Coventry University, United Nations Global Compact, Dewan Architects and Engineers, The Iraqi Business Council in Jordan, Al-Dulaimi Business Group, Ayad Al-Tuhafi Architects, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Surchi Contracting, Eastern Holding Group and Al-Qabas Economical Group