Celebrating the Dialogue Between Earthen Architecture and Landscape
Ten years after the first TERRA Award, the Terra Landscape–Architectural Award 2026 will celebrate outstanding contemporary earthen architectures that express a deep and meaningful connection between architecture and landscape.
Organised as part of TERRA 2026 – the World Congress on Earthen Architecture (Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, 13–16 April 2026), the award will recognise exemplary projects from around the world that demonstrate how earthen materials can shape our relationship to the environment, culture, and territory.
This new distinction seeks to honour all those who contribute to the vitality of earthen construction today: the visionary clients who choose earth as a building material, the creative designers who engage with context and landscape, and the skilled artisans and builders whose craftsmanship transforms soil into architecture.
By showcasing these projects, the Terra Landscape–Architectural Award aims to promote earthen architecture as a living practice — one that builds bridges between tradition and innovation, nature and culture, local identity and global challenges.
The Award will be divided into three categories, each reflecting a specific approach to the relationship between earthen architecture and landscape:
1/ Integration into the Natural Site,
2/ Dialogue with Existing Cultural Landscape,
3/ Valorisation of Local Resources and Know-how.
Each project is to be submitted to one category only. The proposed projects will be evaluated according to a common set of criteria, with additional weighting given to those specific to the chosen category. The jury will select five projects per category, for a total of fifteen finalists, from which three winners — one per category — will be designated.
The three award winners will be invited to present their projects at the awards ceremony in Al Ain. They will also be given the opportunity to attend the TERRA 2026 World Congress, with travel and accommodation expenses covered by the organiser. Hosted for the first time in the Arab region, the congress is expected to gather between 700 and 1,000 participants, with an estimated 140 to 160 presentations.

Award Categories
Integration into the Natural Site
Architectural design that adapts, but also enhances and reveals the natural characteristics of the site — such as topography, climate, vegetation, and available resources.

Dialogue with Existing Cultural Landscape
Architectural design that continues and renews the local or regional architectural language while meeting contemporary expectations and social needs.

Valorisation of Local Resources and Know-How
Architectural design that makes effective use of locally available resources — whether material (earth, but also stone, fibres, etc.), human (knowledge, craftsmanship, know-how), or organizational (community-based construction, local networks).

Eligibility
Buildings or groups of buildings intended for habitation or public use (in the broad sense) are eligible.
Pure landscape interventions or artworks without functional use are not eligible.
Projects must have been completed between 2015 and 2025.

Awards and Recognition
- 3 Winners and 15 Finalists will be selected.
- The 3 winners will be invited to Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, to receive their awards and participate in a special Panel on Contemporary Earthen Architecture during the TERRA 2026 World Congress
- The 15 finalists will get recognised through publication of their projects on the conference web-site as well as on UNESCO Chair on earthen architecture website
- The awards ceremony will take place during the TERRA 2026 World Congress 13-16 April 2026.
Winners’ prizes include:
- Travel and accommodation in Al Ain for the three winners for the duration of the conference.
- Trophies designed and produced by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT).
- Publication in the Congress proceedings and an online gallery on the official TERRA 2026 website.

Submission Process
- Official language of the entire submission process and all documents: English
- Opening of submissions: November 24, 2026
- Deadline for entries: January 25, 2026
- Deadline extension: January 28, 2026
- Announcement of finalists: February-March 2026
- Finalists will be contacted subsequently to provide the documentation required for publication
List of Required Application Documents and Files
- Completed online application form ;
- Poster file (PDF format; 3 pages)

Apply now
Category 1
Integration into the Natural Site
Category 2
Dialogue with Existing Cultural Landscape
Category 3
Valorisation of Local Resources and Know-How

List of finalists
Following the jury’s evaluations, the twenty finalists selected from around the world are now being revealed to the public.

Jury
Dr. Maddalena Achenza, architect, CEAA Terre, Head of ICOMOS-ISCEAH and Associate Professor at the University of Cagliari. Italy
Maddalena Achenza is an architect with a degree from the University of Florence, a PhD in Architecture from the University of Cagliari, and a CEEA-Terre (Certificat d’Études Approfondies en Architecture) from CRAterre–ENSAG in Grenoble, France. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Cagliari, Faculty of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, where she teaches within the framework of the UNESCO Chair “Earthen Architecture, Building Cultures and Sustainable Development.”
She serves as President of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Earthen Architectural Heritage (ISCEAH) and coordinates the same committee within ICOMOS Italy. She also acts as a technical consultant for the International Association of Earthen Cities (Italy) and the World Monuments Fund (USA).
She actively participates in the organization of international conferences, including recent editions of the ISCEAH World Terra Congresses, and has coordinated or contributed to numerous European and regional projects in heritage preservation.
Her work bridges academic research and applied conservation, promoting the sustainable use of local materials, ecological design, and the enhancement of vernacular and earthen-built heritage. Achenza has authored over 80 publications and is internationally recognized for advancing knowledge and professional practice in earthen architecture and heritage management, ensuring their relevance to contemporary design and sustainable urban landscapes.
Dr. Zaki Aslan, architect, planner, and expert in cultural heritage and conservation. Advisor to the Culture Sector at DCT, Abu Dhabi and Professor of Practice at the American University of Sharjah. UAE / Canada
Dr. Zaki Aslan is an architect, planner, educator, and internationally recognized expert in cultural heritage and conservation. He currently serves as Advisor to the Culture Sectorat the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and worked as Professor of Practice at the American University of Sharjah, College of Architecture, Art and Design.
With over three decades of leadership experience, he served as the founding director of the ICCROM-Sharjah Regional Conservation Centre in the UAE for 21 years, where he spearheaded programs across the Arab region. Aslan, and led cultural heritage conservation initiatives both from Rome, Italy (2003–2011) and later from Sharjah, UAE (2012–2023).
Throughout his career, Aslan has advised numerous GCC and Arab governments, guiding national policies and strategies in heritage conservation, World Heritage, and cultural planning. His expertise extends to managing high-profile projects and providing technical assistance on issues such as heritage conservation and management, public outreach, capacity building, and curriculum development. He worked with leading global organizations, including UNESCO, the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI), EU, USAID, ICOMOS, ALIPH, the British Council, GIZ, Interpol, ICOM, ALECSO and many others.
Dr. Erica Avrami, holds a BA in Architecture and an MS in Historic Preservation. Associate Professor of Historic Preservation at GSAPP, Columbia University. USA.
Erica Avrami, PhD, is the James Marston Fitch Associate Professor of Historic Preservation at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University. Her work redefines preservation as a public policy and planning discipline, exploring how heritage intersects with social justice, climate resilience, and decarbonization across scales beyond individual buildings. She directs the Urban Heritage, Sustainability, and Social Inclusion initiative and co-directs the Adapting the Existing Built Environment Earth Network, both of which engage interdisciplinary research and practice at the nexus of heritage, climate, and urban change. Her teaching and studios emphasize community-engaged processes, co-learning, and reflective design methods that critically examine preservation’s role in contemporary cities.
Professor Avrami has published and co-authored a number of texts, including Second Order Preservation: Social Justice and Climate Action through Heritage Policy (2024), Preservation, Sustainability, and Equity (2021), Preservation and Social Inclusion (2020), Values in Heritage Management (2019). She previously served as Director of Research and Education at World Monuments Fund and as a Project Specialist at the Getty Conservation Institute, where she co-directed the Terra Project.
Lassana Cissé, holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy and heritage expert, Chevalier of the National Order of Mali. Mali
Lassana Cissé is a Malian heritage professional with decades of experience in cultural heritage management, site conservation, and international heritage policy. He holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy and has been active in Mali’s heritage sector since 1979, notably establishing and managing the Cultural Mission of Bandiagara — responsible for the Cliffs of Bandiagara (Pays Dogon), a site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1989.
Cissé served as National Director of Cultural Heritage of Mali and National Coordinator of the programme for the reconstruction and safeguarding of heritage damaged by conflict in northern Mali, including work on sites such as Timbuktu and Gao in collaboration with UNESCO and international partners.
He is a member of UNESCO’s network of African experts for the 1972, 2003, and 2005 cultural conventions. He has also acted as a Senior Consultant for UNESCO on projects related to international assistance and emergency heritage safeguarding in West Africa and Haiti.
He serves on scientific boards of heritage organisations, including the International Scientific Committee on Earthen Architectural Heritage (ICOMOS ISCEAH), and regularly participates in international meetings and conferences on heritage conservation. In recognition of his long service in cultural heritage, he has been honoured as a Chevalier of the National Order of Mali — a national distinction reflecting his contributions to safeguarding Mali’s heritage. He is currently President of the National Committee of ICOMOS Mali.
Marcelo Cortés Álvarez, architect, builder and researcher specializing in earthen architecture and heritage restoration. Fermín Vivaceta Rupio Prize (2012) and finalist of Terra Award 2016. Chili
Marcelo Cortés Álvarez is an architect, builder, and researcher specializing in earthen architecture and heritage restoration. He earned his architectural degree from the University of Chile and registered with the Chilean College of Architects in 1983. Since the mid-1980s, his work has focused on design and construction with earthen materials—from traditional techniques such as quincha and tapial to innovative systems like reinforced earthen panels (Tecno Barro) —developed through hands-on experimentation and deep engagement with local materials and seismic conditions.
In 1986 he founded the Oficina Taller Peñalolén, an experimental design and bioconstruction studio exploring ecological building systems in wood, stone, and earthen materials. His office has carried out numerous heritage restoration and reconstruction projects across Chile, using techniques that strengthen traditional earthen materials for improved structural performance.
Cortés has received national and international recognition, including the Fermín Vivaceta Rupio Prize (2012) and being honored as a pioneer at the Terra Award (TerraWorld, 2016) for his contributions to contemporary earthen construction.
He is President of the Fundación Jofré, dedicated to promoting cultural heritage built with earthen materials, and represents Chile in the UNESCO Chair in Earthen Architecture, Building Cultures, and Sustainable Habitat. He has taught and lectured internationally, advancing research and training in sustainable earthen construction and vernacular architecture preservation.
Felipe Andres Gutierrez, architect and holder of a DSA Terre (ENSAG) Head of the Conservation – Archaeological Sites Unit at the Department of Culture and Tourism. Abu Dhabi / Colombia
Felipe Gutierrez is a Colombian architect with over 16 years of professional experience specializing in the conservation of historic buildings and archaeological sites, with a strong focus on earthen architecture and sustainable heritage management. He was trained at the University of Los Andes (Colombia) and at CRAterre | ENSAG (France), where he developed a solid expertise in earth-based construction techniques, conservation methodologies, and the cultural dimensions of building traditions.
His professional trajectory spans a wide range of contexts, including heritage conservation projects in Colombia and France, as well as long-term involvement in the conservation of earthen heritage buildings in the United Arab Emirates. He currently serves as Head of the Conservation – Archaeological Sites Unit at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, where he oversees the protection, conservation, and strategic management of archaeological and historic sites across the emirate, working at the intersection of research, policy, and on-site practice.
Felipe’s work is grounded in a strong commitment to sustainability, local building cultures, and the transmission of traditional know-how. His early engagement with earthen construction shaped a professional path dedicated to exploring the material’s structural capacities, environmental performance, and cultural significance.
Alongside his institutional role, he works as a consultant and instructor, contributing to capacity-building programs for professionals and artisans, and collaborating with architectural and cultural institutions on innovative earthen heritage projects.
Thierry Joffroy, architect, Director of research, associate researcher at CRAterre-ENSAG, Silver Medal 2010 by the French Academy of Architecture. France.
Thierry Joffroy is an architect and researcher at the Grenoble National School of Architecture, specializing in earthen architecture and local building cultures. Since 1986, he has been involved in teaching within the postgraduate program in earthen architecture (DSA Terre), later assuming responsibility for its coordination and, since 2009, its scientific direction.
Alongside his academic activities, he has played a major role in the research conducted by the CRAterre Laboratory. His work spans architecture, heritage conservation, and sustainable development, and includes more than 300 missions carried out in over 60 countries. In this context, he has provided expertise for the design and implementation of numerous international projects and programs, notably the AFRICA 2009 program.
In recognition of his extensive contributions to heritage conservation—particularly through his collaboration with ICCROM and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre—he was awarded the Academy of Architecture’s Silver Medal for Restoration in 2010.
Since 2011, Thierry Joffroy has served as Scientific Director of the Architecture, Environment and Construction Cultures Laboratory of Excellence (AE&CC Labex), which brings together more than 100 researchers in architecture, urban planning, and territorial sciences. In 2018, he obtained the Habilitation to Direct Research (HDR) and currently supervises several doctoral theses in architecture.
Dr. Jun MU, architect, professor and Executive Dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Beijing University (BUCEA), Many awards received, including Terra and World Habitat Award. China.
Jun Mu is a Professor and Executive Dean at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. He also serves as a member of the SDGs Commission of the UIA, Branch Director of the UNESCO Chair in “Earthen Architecture, Building Cultures and Sustainable Development”, a member of the Science and Technology Committee of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China, and a standing committee member of five subcommittees under the Architectural Society of China.
He has been critically engaged in education, research and practice related to systematic renovation and contemporary application of earthen architecture and technology. He has led over 40 projects in 17 provinces of China—including earthen dwellings and public buildings such as the Macha Village Community Center, and Wanjian Village Children’s Library—while training over 1,200 rural craftsmen. His work also supported key contemporary projects like the Erlitou Xia Capital Site National Archaeological Museum, Beijing Expo 2019 Pavilion, and August Dandy Whisky Distillery.
His research and practice have received over 20 international and national awards, including the UIA 2030 Award, the 2019 World Habitat Awards Bronze Award, three UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards, and two WAF Awards, among others.
Bakonirina Rakotomamonjy, architect, researcher, and expert in earthen architecture, Chairperson of CRAterre, Coordinator of the UNESCO Chair on Earthen Architecture. Madagascar
Bakonirina Rakotomamonjy is a Malagasy architect, researcher, and international expert in earthen architecture, cultural heritage management, and sustainable development. She is President of the Centre International de la Construction en Terre (CRAterre) and a senior researcher in the Architecture, Environment and Building Cultures (AE&CC) research unit at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Grenoble (ENSAG), France.
She is also responsible of the network of the UNESCO Chair “Earthen Architecture, Building Cultures and Sustainable Development” at CRAterre-ENSAG, contributing to international research, education, and professional training on earthen construction and cultural heritage conservation.
Since 2002, Rakotomamonjy has carried out more than 80 missions in 28 countries across four continents, providing technical coordination, evaluation, and advisory support on earthen architecture and heritage conservation to institutions such as UNESCO, ICOMOS, ICCROM, the World Heritage Centre, AIMF, EPA, and AWHF.
Her research interests encompass participatory management, transdisciplinary heritage approaches, African cultural heritage and local development, and professional training in earthen architecture. She has published and presented widely on these topics within international academic and professional forums.
In recognition of her contributions to cultural heritage, she was named Chevalier of the Order of Cultural Merit of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in 2013.
Dr. Mohammad Hassan Talebian, Professor of Architecture at University of Tehran, Executive Director of the Pasargadae World Heritage Foundation, and member of ICCROM Council. Iran
Mohammad Hassan Talebian is a Professor of Architecture at the College of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, University of Tehran, where he teaches, supervises graduate research, and contributes to the fields of architectural conservation, cultural heritage management, and restoration. He earned his PhD in Architecture from the University of Tehran, where he also completed his Master’s degree earlier in his academic career.
Professor Talebian serves as Scientific and Executive Director of the Pars-Pasargadae World Heritage Foundation, and as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Regional Research Centre for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in West and Central Asia (a UNESCO Category 2 Centre). He is also a member of the ICCROM Council and has co-presided over scientific committees for international heritage conferences such as the CIAV (Committee for the International Congresses of Architectural Documentation).
His professional experience includes senior roles within Iran’s cultural heritage sector, including leadership in the conservation and management of major World Heritage sites such as Chogha Zanbil, Pasargadae, Persepolis, and Bam, and the preparation and review of nomination dossiers for UNESCO listing.
Talebian has published extensively on heritage conservation, architectural history, and restoration methodology, and participates actively in national and international research collaborations. His work bridges academic scholarship with practical conservation leadership, reinforcing both theoretical and applied heritage practice in Iran and beyond.
Jenny Astrid Vargas Sánchez, architect, specialized in earthen architecture. Professor at the National University of Colombia, Bogotá, and director of ATESORA architecture studio. Colombia
Jenny Astrid Vargas Sánchez is a Colombian architect, educator, and researcher specializing in earthen architecture, vernacular conservation, and cultural heritage intervention. She is a professor at the National University of Colombia, Bogotá, currently serving as Vice Dean for Research and Outreach at the Faculty of Arts, where she teaches in the Heritage Project Emphasis of the Architecture Program. She also directs ATESORA – Arquitectura, Tierra y Patrimonio, a design and research studio that combines academic investigation with applied projects in earthen architecture, heritage restoration, and contemporary patrimonial design.
Vargas Sánchez actively participates in international networks, representing the National University of Colombia in the UNESCO Chair in Earthen Architecture, Building Cultures and Sustainable Development and contributing to the Red Iberoamericana PROTERRA and other scientific committees dedicated to earthen construction and heritage conservation.
With over 20 years of experience, Vargas Sánchez bridges academic research, professional design practice, and international collaboration, fostering contemporary applications of earthen and vernacular architecture in modern contexts. Through ATESORA and her teaching, she promotes solutions that link heritage conservation with current architectural and sustainable development practices, contributing to the preservation and reinterpretation of Colombia’s built heritage for contemporary society.

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