Wael Al Awar is a Dubai-based architect at the forefront of sustainable architecture, linking craftsmanship and advanced technologies. He won the Golden Lion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2021 for his work on concrete made from salt crystals, an experiment that encourages us to think about the delicate relationship between waste and production on both global and local scales. He is the founding partner of waiwai, a firm based in Tokyo and Dubai.
Wael blends his interest in natural phenomena into an architectural style of light, time, structure and landscape. His research aims to create architecture capable of going beyond mere construction while remaining open to new forms of adaptation; his site-specific designs aim to encourage unexpected experiences. Wael is distinguished by his multidisciplinary approach to design that considers social, environmental, economic and technological aspects.