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AJi Innovations Awards

AJi Innovation Awards is part of AJi’s commitment to shaping the next generation of architects by creating platforms that connect education, innovation, and real-world impact. Launched in honor of the late architect Talaat Al-Kawalit, a founding partner and influential figure in Jordan’s architectural landscape, the award celebrates a legacy rooted in design excellence, forward thinking, and cultural relevance.

Through this initiative, AJi empowers students to explore contemporary design approaches while engaging with the identity, context, and environmental responsibility that define meaningful architecture.

Hussein Technical
University

In collaboration with Hussein Technical University (HTU), AJi has established a strong academic–industry partnership that ensures the competition is both intellectually rigorous and professionally relevant. As the official organizer, HTU plays a central role in shaping each edition of the competition, from defining the theme and structuring the framework to overseeing the academic integrity of the process, while AJi brings industry perspective, technical expertise, and strategic direction. This collaboration creates a dynamic platform that bridges education and practice, giving students the opportunity to engage with real-world design challenges within a structured and credible academic environment.


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Competition Theme & Timeline

The theme reflects AJi Group’s vision of architectural experimentation that merges digital innovation with place-based identity. Each component of the theme contributes to shaping the design intent:


Parametric


Participants are encouraged to utilize computational and parametric design tools to generate architectural forms that respond intelligently to:


  • Site constraints
  • Environmental conditions
  • Structural logic
  • Material behavior
  • Cultural and urban context

The use of digital analysis and algorithmic processes should meaningfully inform the design outcome rather than act as a purely formal exercise.


Folly


A folly is understood as a light, expressive, and potentially temporary architectural intervention. It may take the form of:


  • A pavilion
  • A sculptural landmark
  • A shaded gathering space
  • A transitional passage or urban installation

The folly should be capable of hosting temporary outdoor cultural activities, including but not limited to:


  • Open-air lectures and discussions
  • Art exhibitions and galleries
  • Book fairs
  • Music performances and festivals
  • Cultural and community events
  • Informal seating and social interaction

Amman


Amman serves as the cultural, historical, and urban reference for the project. Participants are expected to abstract and reinterpret the city’s essence through:


  • A contemporary, minimalist architectural language
  • Sustainable and climate-responsive strategies
  • Cultural symbolism rooted in Amman’s heritage, traditions, and urban memory
  • A forward-looking vision reflecting the city’s evolving identity

  • 09 July 2026 — First Orientation
  • 26 July 2026 — Registration Closes
  • 01 August 2026 — Second Orientation
  • 18 October 2026 — Submission
  • 16 November 2026 — Shortlist
  • 21 November 2026 — Finalist Session
  • 05 December 2026 — Final Ceremony

Site Location & Design Guidelines

Participants must work on the proposed site:


  • Al-Hashemite Plaza, Downtown Amman (Raghadan)

  • Maximum plot size: 10 m × 10 m.
  • Maximum total height: 30 m above ground level.
  • The design must accommodate outdoor, temporary cultural functions.
  • Designs should prioritize sustainability, durability, and feasibility.
  • The use of recycled, reusable, or low-impact materials is strongly encouraged

A. First Round Submission


Each participant must submit the following:


1. Digital Poster


  • Format: JPG (high resolution)
  • Orientation: Portrait
  • Size: 1 m × 2 m

The poster must include:


  • Concept statement and design narrative
  • Site analysis diagrams
  • Site plan (Scale 1:50)
  • Floor plans (Scale 1:50)
  • Two elevations (Scale 1:50)
  • Two sections (Scale 1:50)
  • Two rendered isometric views
  • Two rendered perspective images

2. Digital 3D Model


A complete digital model in any of the following formats:


  • Rhino / Grasshopper
  • SketchUp
  • Revit
  • Or any equivalent architectural modeling software

B. Second Round Submission


Short-listed participants will be invited to proceed to the second round.


They will be required to:


  • Revise and develop their proposals based on jury feedback
  • Resubmit the project using the same format and content as the first round
  • Provide one printed copy of the final 1 m × 2 m portrait poster

Competition Future Prospects

The selected theme of Parametric Folly is intended to continue in future editions, with proposed sites located in major cities across Jordan. AJi Group may take the initiative to collaborate with the winning participant of each edition to further develop the first-prize proposal into a complete construction documentation package. This package may then be presented to the relevant municipalities and authorities to seek sponsorship and implementation.

1st Place — 2,000 JOD

2nd Place — 1,000 JOD

3rd Place — 750 JOD

Jury Members

Maisa Bataineh

Farouk Yaghmour

Ismail Al Tahhan

Faris Bagaeen

Bisher Zureikat

Ahmad Fares

Ali Najjar