The jury for the 2025–2026 edition, composed of Dr. Effat Abdullah Fadag, Mohamed Almusibli, Nora Razian, and Rayyane Tabet, reviewed a diverse and competitive pool of proposals that reflected the conceptual depth and breadth of the current Saudi art scene. The submissions explored Jeddah’s coastal landscapes, architectural heritage, sonic and atmospheric registers, and emotional resonance as a city of both passage and permanence. While many proposals shared a sensitivity toward the environment, memory, and material transformation, they differed in approach, ranging from research-based and participatory methods to sculptural, performative, and spatial experimentations.

The 2025-2026 Hayy Facade Commission open call received a high number of strong and original proposals. In recognition of the quality of these applications,  the Jury has decided to exceptionally award two proposals to be realised in 2026 and 2027. The awardees are Bricklab for the 2026 Facade Commission and Alaa Tarabzouni for the 2027 Facade Commission. 

“We were impressed by the number and high calibre of many of the proposals received, a testament to the rich arts ecosystem of Saudi. For this edition of the open call, we have decided to award two proposals, in recognition of their quality, originality and strong research and conceptual grounding. The awardees are Bricklab of architecture and urban research studio Bricklab, and artist and curator Alaa Tarabzouni. We look forward to seeing their exceptional proposals come to life on the Hayy Jameel Facade over 2026 and 2027.”

and curator Alaa Tarabzouni. We look forward to seeing their exceptional proposals come to life on the Hayy Jameel Facade over 2026 and 2027.”

Bricklab’s proposal reinterprets the ubiquitous awnings adorning shops across Jeddah as an architectural and social device that bridges collective memory and urban life. Through suspended and layered modules clad in striped fabrics sourced from local vendors, the commission playfully transforms the façade into a mirror of the city’s urban history as well as a welcoming space. By invoking the visual language of Jeddah’s commercial streets, the installation turns the building into a civic gesture, a living threshold between the institution and the city.

Alaa Tarabzouni’s proposal transforms the Hayy Jameel façade into a living instrument, a responsive architecture that moves and sings with the wind. Composed of wind chimes, bells, and aeolian instruments, the installation translates Jeddah’s coastal winds into a constantly shifting soundscape, where each gust becomes rhythm and tone. The work channels the layered sonic history of the city, recalling its maritime calls, its echoes through markets and courtyards, and its intimate dialogue with the sea breeze. Her proposal marks an important expansion in the formal and sensorial vocabulary of the commission.

About Bricklab:
Bricklab is a studio for architecture, design and experimental research based in Jeddah. It navigates the interplay between material research, practical design, and the built environment. Their portfolio – from cultural architecture to urban design and consulting, public space interventions, to scenography and installations-reflects a thoughtful response to the changing contexts of each project. The studio was formed in 2015 by Abdulrahman and Turki Gazzaz. Over the years, their team has expanded to include architects and designers from different backgrounds and interests.

About Alaa Tarabzouni:

Alaa Tarabzouni has a career that spans over ten years in the arts and culture sector, before stepping into the role of an independent curator and artist, she served as the director of ATHR Gallery and prior to that as a Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Culture of Saudi. Her diverse experience in both the public and private sector, coupled with her active art practice, has given her a deep and well-rounded understanding of the arts. While Alaa’s background in architecture informs her approach, her main focus is context, which she regards as her primary medium and muse. Her work consistently engages with this focus, exploring the relationship between art, its environment, and the viewer’s experience.

In 2018, Alaa co-founded Very Public, a multidisciplinary artist-run exhibition space in Riyadh. From its inception, Very Public has consistently hosted a variety of exhibitions and programs, contributing to the city’s art scene. Alaa’s academic pursuits have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to art and curation. She holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in architecture from Newcastle University and Pratt Institute in New York, respectively. She also holds a second master’s in arts and Cultural Enterprise from University of Arts London: Central Saint Martins.

About the Hayy Jameel Facade Commission Open Call:
The Hayy Jameel Façade Commission is an annual programme that gives one artist or collective the opportunity to develop a major public work for the 25-metre “canvas” on the front of the building – a feature integral to the architectural intent. The current edition of the commission was awarded to artist Ashraf Abdullah and his piece ‘Messages from the Road’ – on view until March 2026.

The Hayy Jameel Facade Commission is presented with lead partner Lexus – Abdul Latif Jameel Motors.