Build Your House Exhibition Recognizes Student Creativity

September 30, 2021
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Byh 10315 Final Posters Maryam Alsayed 1

Proposals by university seniors balance aesthetics with modifications for those with differing abilities

Three Interior Design students from VCUarts Qatar were awarded prizes for their residential design proposals at the second edition of the Build Your House Exhibition, held on 20-22 September 2021, at Qatar National Convention Centre.

The first place went to Deema Al Marrikhi, the second to Maryam AlSayed, and the third to Maryam AlSulaiti. All three are senior students at VCUarts Qatar. The project required participating students to design the interiors for residential homes, while catering to specific requirements from varied clients.

Liam Colquhoun, the Interim Chair for Interior Design at VCUarts Qatar, noted how such collaborations enhanced student learning through industry experience.

“The VCUarts Interior Design Department regards industry collaborations as being crucial to our students’ learning experience,” Colquhoun said. “On this occasion we were delighted to be able to align a junior-level studio residential design project with the Build Your Own House 2021 Student Competition and benefit from interactions with the associated competition sponsors.”

And he added, “The submitted projects of Deema, Maryam and Maryam illustrated not only their talent and creativity, but also their inherent comfort in working within the residential design industry. Whether or not they choose to remain in this sector of design after graduation or apply their skills to other areas of design, such early success points toward a bright future for Doha’s design industry.”

Deema Al Marrikhi’s concept for a residential home exploited the use of natural sunlight, alongside design modifications to suit the hearing impaired. Maryam AlSayed used a minimalist approach for a contemporary villa; her clutter-free design made good use of natural materials and neutral color tones, and safety modifications for autistic people and the elderly. Maryam AlSulaiti’s villa design drew inspiration from nature. The design’s open plan showcased wooden beams, and greenery along with adaptations to reduce sound reflections for those with hearing impairments.

The award ceremony and an exhibition of the award-winning designs were part of the three-day event that saw the participation of more than 150 companies in Design, Building and Renovation, from Qatar and the region. Of these companies, Perra Interior, Coolex and Jotun sponsored the prizes for each winner. Prizes awarded to the VCUarts Qatar students included, among others, cash awards, offers for winning students to have their designs developed into products, an all-expense paid visit to a company headquarters, and invitations to certified courses at Jotun Color Academy.

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