Architecture competitions are more than design exercises—they are opportunities to challenge ideas, encourage innovation, and prepare the next generation of architects for real-world practice.

As a sponsor of SAE’s Architecture of the Place competition, YAAM Architects was proud to support an initiative that invited architects and students worldwide to design a National Culture Center on Qaraman Island in Sohag, Egypt. The project challenged participants to respond to a unique site while balancing culture, sustainability, accessibility, and public life within a meaningful architectural vision.

Our Co-Founders and Directors, Abdallah Tariq and Abdelrahman Khattab, participated as jury members alongside distinguished architects and academics from leading international practices and institutions. The evaluation process highlighted not only the quality of the submissions but also the diversity of ideas, demonstrating how different perspectives can respond to the same place and design challenge.

At YAAM Architects, we believe competitions are a powerful bridge between education and professional practice. They give emerging architects the opportunity to test ideas, develop confidence, and engage with architecture as a response to real people, places, and contexts.

By supporting initiatives like Architecture of the Place, we aim to foster creativity, encourage meaningful dialogue, and contribute to a stronger architectural culture across the Middle East and beyond.

The future of architecture will be shaped by those willing to question, explore, and imagine new possibilities—and competitions provide the platform for that future to begin.