Abdalla Sabbar’s Award for Material Innovation

The Modern Sudan Collective / the Sudan chapter of Docomomo International was formed to document and conserve architecture of Sudan's modern era, which is defined as the period from1800 to the 1980s. The aim of the collective is to raise awareness not only to the period’s rich architectural heritage, but also to the stories and histories related to its production. Abdulla Sabbar’s Award for Material Innovation recognizes insights into architectural practice and the reimagining of materiality.  

The award is granted to a designer who can generate a design innovation for the use of materials in Sudan. The Abdalla Sabbar’s Award for Material Innovation launched to encourage creative thinking and material experimentation. The recognition of creative approaches ripples into industry and encourages the development of sustainable solutions in the construction industry.

The award encourages applicants to reconsider the immediately available materials and how they can be deployed within the design of a building. There are no limitations regarding the materials used, which can be natural, recycled, or highly processed materials. 

Entrants are encouraged to examine the material innovations of architects such as Abdalla Sabbar. Submissions should rethink the aesthetics, functionality, sustainability, and the possibilities ascribed to materials, such as their use in atypical spaces (which destabilizes how they are typically understood and used).

Entrants are not bound to tradition or to history. Submissions should be innovative; introducing a new design or a new way to work with a material.

Entrants should submit the material innovation as well as an explanation of how it can be deployed in the construction of a building.

Deliverables:

Submit your entry using the guidelines (downloadable from the website). The guidelines contain a pre-set format, layout, and details required for each of the deliverables. The document is available in InDesign and PDF formats.

An ideal submission would include the following items and descriptions:
Entry statement on the material, the proposed innovation, and application
The location/a map of where the material can be found and how it is transported
The material’s history
The material’s characteristics and design impact
The craftsmanship and labour connected to the material
The social, political, economic, and environmental dimension of the material
Documentation of material experiments and process through drawings and notes
Bios of participant(s)
A1 size poster to be exhibited. The poster may be artistic, abstract, interpretive, or diagrammatic 

Award Conditions
Only entries from or relating to the terrains and geographies of Sudan will be considered, this includes neighbouring countries
Entrants could be architects, structural engineers, artists, craftsmen, or people engaged in a material practice
Each designer may submit only one material innovation for consideration
The proposed innovation must be an original work
Applicants may submit as individuals or in groups
The participant retains all copyrights for their innovation and Modern Sudan Collective is permitted to share the submitted documents

All applicants must register for the award via the following link:

Timeline:

May 2023: Conversations with Jurors
September 30, 2023, 11:59pm (Sudan time): Submission deadline
October / November 2023: Entries judged
December 2023: Winners announced

The jury consists of:
Amélie Esséssé
Anne Holtrop
Dima Sirouji
Ingrid Schroder
Mohamed Ismail
Yousif Hummaida