Ajman University Alumnus Wins Top Photography Award for Stunning Pictures of the House of Wisdom

Ajman University (AU) alumnus Shoayb Khattab’13 has won the prestigious Architizer A+ Jury Award for the best photography and video for his stunning imagery of the newly launched House of Wisdom in Sharjah. The Architizer A+ awards celebrate the best buildings and spaces depicting unparalleled architecture and design across the world each year.

The stunningly beautiful House of Wisdom was recently launched as a public library and cultural hub in Sharjah, UAE and is designed by renowned British engineering and architecture firm, Foster and Partners.

“I always knew the House of Wisdom will be an architectural masterpiece right since they announced its design concept,” says Shoayb. His foresight led him to click some beautiful and early pictures of the project, noticing which, Delta Solutions, the lighting consultants for the project commissioned him to click more photographs of the landmark building.

Foster and Partners also purchased some of his images as they captured the beauty of the House of Wisdom in a remarkably refreshing way and in different angles.

Winning the Architizer award for his pictures was the ultimate icing on the cake for Shoayb. “As an Architect, I was always fascinated by the Architizer Plus awards, which are the most renowned awards in the field of architecture,” says Shoayb. “The competition is tough as they judge your work on rigorous parameters including form, function and impact, and the judges are globally renowned and great architects such as Steven Holl, Sou Fujimoro and Iwan Baan among others. I am truly honored to have received this award,” added Shoayb.

Shoayb who is currently working as a Director of Photography at Dubai-based media firm Masshouse, got introduced to architectural photography by a friend while pursuing his first year Bachelor of Architecture at Ajman University. His passion for architectural photography developed with time. “As we know Architecture has many different specializations and one of them is Architectural Photography. Studying architecture had a great impact in developing an eye that looks at buildings from an architect’s point of view rather than as a normal photographer,” concludes Shoayb.

Commenting on the success of Shoayb, Dr. Riad Saraiji, Dean, Ajman University’s College of Architecture, Art & Design, said, “The achievement of our Alumnus Shoayb Khattab is a testament of his talent, skills and dedication. It is also a testament of the high quality of education that Ajman University and the College of Architecture, Art and Design provides for its students. My sincere congratulations to Shoayb.”