Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge Competition – Tharwa Sea Front Site 3rd Prize Winners – LOCAL

We’d like to take this opportunity to introduce the 3rd prize winners of our Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge Competition, Tharwa Sea Front Site – Matthieu Boustany, Local from France!

Matthieu Boustany and Benoist Desfonds

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.

LOCAL is an award-winning architecture and urbanism office based in Paris, Brussels, and Bergen since 2019. With broad international experience, we contribute creatively to the transformation of cities and territories worldwide. We work as a dynamic think-tank, producing contemporary projects that respond to each context through precise and meaningful narratives. By connecting people, architecture, nature, and technology, we create bespoke solutions and unique places for communities.

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?

LOCAL develops its work around three main axes:

Sport & Activities: Creating flexible spaces that link sport, wellness, and hospitality. From community hubs to competitive arenas, our projects strengthen engagement and well-being.

Transformation & Conservation: We revitalize spaces by implementing new programs and follow a careful reuse of materials and resources to allow the cities to evolve and expend the life of their existing buildings.

Health: Bringing care closer to everyday life by designing inclusive, multigenerational neighborhoods and supportive environments for the future.

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

In our society, being an architect often means carrying full liability. We prefer to see it as an opportunity to approach challenges with a broader perspective and deliver holistic solutions. As architects, but also as individuals, we explore the world with curiosity, seeking new ways of living and alternative approaches to our ordinary.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

LOCAL was first founded around architecture competitions, as they offer complete freedom and a clear opportunity to go beyond the brief, enabling new approaches that are rarely possible within the standard architectural process.


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

Architecture competitions are a great way to put new ideas on paper. Even if a project doesn’t move forward, the work always enriches future projects.