13 June 2021
H.E receives Winners of “A Bench in Muharraq” Competition, H.E: Awarded projects will be key landmarks along Pearling Path to be finished this year
H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, congratulated the winning projects of the “A Bench in Muharraq” competition, and praised the architectural beautiful creations, stressing that the benches designed by the winners will be implemented and placed in specific locations on the “Pearling Path: Testimony of an Island Economy” site, registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This happened when H.E welcomed the winners of the competition at the on June 13th , with the presence of Her Excellency Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director General of Culture and Arts.
In addition, H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa thanked the winners for their participation and submission of creative and innovative designs that are in line with the projects intended to advance the urban landscape of the historic city of Muharraq, stressing that the Bahrain Culture Authority’s constant keenness to cooperate and work with artists and creative designers in implementing its projects. BACA’s President affirmed that the winning works would be key landmarks placed along the Pearling Path upon completion, scheduled for the end of this year. Indeed, the famous Pearling Path site is considered a tributary for a sustainable cultural tourism industry and development that open the world’s doors and windows to Bahrain raises the local community to sky levels and places Bahrain at high position regionally.
Awarded winning contesters, for their part, thanked H.E Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa and the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities for offering the general the public the opportunity to participate in beautifying the features of Bahrain's cities, stressing the importance of the artists' participation in the cultural and civilized scene in the Kingdom.
Top on the list of projects figures Rawan Abdurrahman Abdullah who opted for a location new the edge of the building (Bait Al-Nokhda). Her design concept is characterized by creating spherical shapes that look like oyster pearls, is very dynamic, solid given its cement-based production materials and has a unique continuity feature. “Bench in Muharraq” second winner is “Civil Architect” project by Hamad Bu Khamseen & Ali Kareemi. The project design, titled “Limestone Bench for Muharraq” lies heavily on boulders extracted from Bahrain’s quarries and sculpted into benches for the Bu-Maher Fort coastline. The third winner project design is inspired by the rich culture and complex history of Bahrain Natural materials and organic shapes are a nod to Bahrain's pearl industry and the beautiful waters of the Arabian Gulf. The larger shape is inspired by traditional fishing dhows and will use repurposed wood from decommissioned fishing dhows as the primary bench materials recycled and sustainable. The design invites the community to sit rest and reflect on their relationship with the surrounding environment. The Fourth project titled “ Crooked Balance” along Bu Maher Fort shore and designed by Noora Fraidoon is an attempt to simulate and resemble the immense weight the pearling crew, and especially the divers, must carry and heavy burden to bear during the months-long journey out in the open sea. The fifth winning project is designed by Nader Al-Abbasi, whereby the bench is located near Muard House and Fakhro and based on the path of Bahrain Pearling trail that connect the historical places in Muharraq city. The sixth and last winning project of the “Bench in Muharraq” competition is prepared by Fadheela al-Sheehabi and Hussain Isa as “ Arterior Interior Design” firm and derives its inspiration from the Pearling Path Visitor Center and the city;s social interactions in Muharraq historical buildings.
The pioneering architectural design competition “A Bench in Muharraq”, which was organized by Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, in cooperation with the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning. The design competition of different benches aimed to dynamically engage with audiences in reviving the social and urban fabric of Muharraq through the design of a public bench to be situated along the “Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy” site. The design of benches is not the ultimate goal, but rather the right choice and perfect place suggestion along the Pearling Path to interact with the local community and revive sweet memories of a unique urban and natural landscape remain the real objective of this contest.
