Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge #8 – Tharwa Sea Front Site – 3rd Prize Winners: Raniya Mohammed A Al Mughyirah, Abdulrahman Saleh Abdullah Lahmdi and Mohamed Salah

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 3rd prize winners of our Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge #8 competition – Raniya Mohammed A Al Mughyirah, Abdulrahman Saleh Abdullah Lahmdi and Mohamed Salah from Saudi Arabia!

Raniya Mohammed A Al Mughyirah, Abdulrahman Saleh Abdullah Lahmdi and Mohamed Salah from Saudi Arabia

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.

We are participating in this competition as an independent team of architects and design professionals rather than under a specific company. We share a similar professional background and work within an architectural environment that values the contemporary reinterpretation of local and traditional architecture. Our approach is rooted in understanding place, climate, culture, and context, and translating these qualities into contemporary architecture that responds to modern needs while remaining connected to its environment and urban identity. This shared background has helped us develop a common design language, particularly in contextual and desert architecture.

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?

Through our professional roles, members of the team have contributed to architectural and urban projects in Saudi Arabia associated with Diriyah Gate, ROSHN, Qiddiya, and Sports Boulevard, in addition to several mixed-use developments in Riyadh. Across these projects, our work has focused on reinterpreting local identity, traditional architectural elements, climate, and landscape through contemporary design solutions. We are particularly interested in architecture that responds to its environment and expresses the unique character of its city and place.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

To us, architecture is culture and a way of life. It is not simply about creating buildings, but about expressing how people live, remember, interact, and identify with a place. We see the architect as a translator between heritage and the present—understanding local culture, climate, materials, and traditional principles, then reinterpreting them in a contemporary way that responds to today’s needs. Architecture should allow cities to evolve while remaining connected to their identity and roots.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Architecture competitions give us the freedom to explore ideas, challenge conventional solutions, and develop concepts driven by culture, place, and narrative. For us, they are also an opportunity to explore how local stories, memories, landscapes, and traditions can be translated into contemporary architecture. The process encourages experimentation, collaboration, and continuous development of our design thinking.

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

We would encourage them to participate, especially in competitions they genuinely connect with. The value of a competition is not limited to winning; it lies in research, experimentation, collaboration, and the opportunity to develop a clear architectural position. Start by understanding the place and its story before thinking about form. A strong project should grow from its context rather than simply be placed within it. Even when a proposal is not selected, the process strengthens critical thinking, communication, and the development of a personal design language.