As part of the Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge, a global competition celebrating creativity and cultural expression through public art, jury member Eli Synnevåg of the internationally renowned architecture firm Snøhetta presents a special public talk titled “Landmarks: Memory, Culture, and the Tool of Placemaking.”
In this inspiring session, Eli explores how memory, identity, and cultural heritage influence the shaping of public spaces. Drawing from Snøhetta’s celebrated projects around the world, she discusses how architecture can act as a vessel for collective memory and spark meaningful engagement within communities. Her perspective is especially relevant to participants of the Mujassam Watan competition, where placemaking is central to the design challenge.
The Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge invites architects, designers, and creatives from around the world to design iconic public sculptures for one of two locations in Saudi Arabia: the Abu Hadriyah Road or the Tharwa Sea Front. These sites offer distinct contexts—ranging from high-speed highway visibility to pedestrian-friendly waterfront experiences—and the competition seeks proposals that reflect Saudi Arabia’s heritage, vision, and identity.
With a total €50,000 prize fund, this competition offers not just recognition but the opportunity to contribute to the future of public space in Saudi Arabia. Winning proposals may also be considered for construction.
This is your chance to showcase your vision — but time is running out.
Final registration closes on July 24, 2025.
architecturecompetitions.com/MujassamWatan
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