Dubai student's project honoured at regional design industry awards

Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter

A graduation project developed by Mariya Ghanchi has received the Highly Commended Award in the Student Interior Design Concept of the Year category at the Middle East and North Africa Commercial Interior Design (CID) Awards 2023.

The student of Canadian University Dubai (CUD) award-winning concept, titled ‘The Oasis Student Hub’ was designed to cater to students in a constant state of stress, to provide a space for comfort and relaxation to help them regain focus and promote positive mental health.

Inspired by her own experiences of alleviating anxiety, Mariya set out to design a space based on the concept of biophilia, using connections with nature to create a harmonious environment to help visitors unwind and refocus.

Explaining her motivation for the project, Mariya said, “Rates of stress and anxiety among UAE youth are at an all-time high, and there is a lack of facilities that integrate design to promote productivity and mental health through both physical and visual strategies.”

Sharing her experience, Mariya continued, “When I found myself stressed with university assignments and exams, there was a place in the communal area on campus where the natural light created a soothing space, and I could sit and feel at peace. This encouraged me to research the theory of biophilic design and to incorporate this, along with other components that promote psychological wellbeing, into the concept for my BSc in Interior Design graduation project.”

She further said that the hub is segmented into three zones: The Replenish Zone, encompassing paces such as the yoga room and meditation area; The Reconnect Zone, comprising social areas and group study spaces; and The Refocus Zone, housing facilities such as the library, and dedicated reading and study areas.

Mariya was one of four CUD students among the five finalists shortlisted from hundreds of entries for the CID award for Student Interior Design Concept of the Year. Now in its seventeenth edition, the annual CID gathering is renowned as one of the biggest events on the regional design calendar.

The student award was presented for the first time this year, in recognition of the emerging young talent in the industry.

On receiving the award, Mariya said, “I am grateful to the CID community for introducing this category to students this year and I am extremely honoured to be the recipient of this award. Such a milestone would not have been possible without the exceptional guidance and mentorship of my professors at Canadian University Dubai, which has played a key role in shaping my identity as an interior designer today. This recognition motivates me to keep exploring the frontiers of design innovation.”