Sharjah24: Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), has announced that the iconic House of Wisdom has bagged three awards for excellence in design at the seventh annual identity Design Awards held at the Address Beach Resort in Dubai recently.

Developed by Shurooq and designed by international architecture firm Foster + Partners, the House of Wisdom won the coveted 2021 Design Awards launched by identity – the region’s leading monthly magazine dedicated to contemporary design, interiors, architecture and property, in three prominent categories.

The futuristic cultural hub was named winner in the ‘Interior Design – Public Space’ category for its open, square plan design that serves as an inclusive and immersive space for learning, sharing, creating, and accessing knowledge.

The jury named House of Wisdom as winner of the ‘Architecture – Design of the Year’ category for its minimalist aesthetic and contemporary design that features a large cantilevered floating roof and a transparent rectilinear form.

The House of Wisdom was awarded in the ‘Architecture – Public Building’ category for providing collaborative, creative and culturally rich spaces to enrich the lives of the community by hosting a wide range of educational, cultural and entertainment activities. 

Commenting on the distinguished honour, Marwa Obaid Al Aqroubi, Director of the House of Wisdom, said: “The three prestigious awards reaffirm House of Wisdom’s symbolic architecture and sustainable public space design as the bedrock which embodies its world-class cultural and social development goals. Its combination of distinctive interior and public designs, integrating rich Emirati cultural and heritage elements, coupled with its modernized architecture are all major factors that position House of Wisdom as the library of the future created for all cultures, social groups, sciences and arts.”

Al Aqroubi added: "The House of Wisdom was designed to be more than just a library, but more of a futuristic construct that contributes to realising Sharjah’s vision in the sustainable development of its cultural projects, which continue to strengthen the emirate’s position as a global beacon that embraces people, knowledge, culture and nature form all over the world.”

On her part, Khawla Al Hashimi, Director of Project Development at Shurooq, said: “The House of Wisdom underpins Shurooq’s holistic strategy of transforming public spaces by developing breathtaking destinations that enrich the cultural experience, honour the rich Emirati heritage, and raise the bar for responsible development.”

She added: “The House of Wisdom fulfils the emirate’s vision for public and inclusive spaces that focus on education, culture and the arts, and is a testament to Shurooq’s pursuit in curating unique experiences with world class facilities and services. Through our partnership with Foster + Partners, Shurooq has pushed the boundaries of innovation in design to develop a library of the future, thereby strengthening Sharjah’s position as a gateway to knowledge and culture in the region.”

The House of Wisdom commemorates Sharjah’s UNESCO World Book Capital title in 2019 and was designed to reflect Sharjah’s cultural leadership and its commitment to a knowledge-driven society.

Nominees of the annual identity Design Awards are independently evaluated by an international jury and awarded to projects in the Middle East across 18 categories in architecture and interior design.