House of the Future 1st prize winners - Mohamed Al Mufti, Souaid Georges and Natalie Elmir

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 1st prize winners of our "House of the Future" competition – Mohamed Al Mufti, Souaid Georges and Natalie Elmir!

Mohamed Al Mufti from Lebanon

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

Atelier Mufti Architecture was first established in Paris, France in 2006. Then established in Damascus, Syria until 2011. Since 2012 established in Beirut, Lebanon. Number of employees varies. 13 architects at peeks, and 2 to 3 in regular periods. Graduated from Versailles school of Architecture (ENSAV), France in 2003. Professor in school of Architecture at Alba (Academie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts), Lebanon since 2012.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been Involved?

Educational projects: schools, universities Residential projects: individual housing, residential buildings / compounds. Cultural projects: Museums, theatres, concert halls, cultural centers.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Competitions are fast exercises. Very useful intellectually to disconnect from day to day work and spend a couple of weeks on a competition.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

Exploring different cultures, different programs, different horizons is a richness that competitions procure. Leaving one's comfort zone for a while is beneficial.