Egyptian architect Ebtissam
Moustapha wins Egypt’s state
award for excellency
The Netherlands
pavilion for
Expo 2020 to
produce water
from desert air
The Netherlands pavilion for Expo
2020 Dubai will display a number of
‘inventions’, one of which includes the
production of water from desert air
through solar power.
The Dutch Consulate has also an-
nounced that the pavilion has already
started construction.
The pavilion will feature a biotope,
designed by V8 Architects, which con-
nects water, energy and food in a circu-
lar way, and will be constructed entirely
from locally-available construction ma-
terials, minimising transportation.
Last month, Dutch Consul- General
and Commissioner- General, Hans
Sandee, presented a bottle of water
harvested from air in the Netherlands
to Najeeb Mohammed Al Ali, executive
director of Expo 2020 Dubai.
“It is important to realise our respon-
sibility towards our planet and future
generations. By showcasing home-
grown solutions that link the issues of
water, energy and food, we are keen to
contribute to Expo 2020,” said Kaag.
Al Ali added: “Today’s groundbreak-
ing ceremony and this unique bottle of
water harvested from air reflects the
Netherlands’ innovative approach to
Expo 2020 Dubai. We look forward to
continue working with the Dutch team
and seeing what other exciting technol-
ogies will feature in the Dutch pavilion
at Expo 2020.”
Dutch artist Ap Verheggen and his
team are behind the SunGlacier tech-
nology that makes the water-from-air
feat possible.to challenge the “conventional model
of de sig n pr o duc t ion i n Eg y pt ” t h r oug h
advanced technology, research and
fostering collaboration between edu-
cation, practice and manufacturers.
Hoping to nurture an international
hub of design that can thrive in today’s
economy, Encode Studio offers archi-
tecture, design and furniture design
services.
Moustapha’s architectural projects
include Namma residences, Ceaser Bay
and the rehabilitation of Sednaoui Al
Khazendar, all of which are in Egypt.
The other winners of the Excellency
Awards include Ahmed Fadl Shabloul
and Fou’ad Taman for literature, Ibra-
him El-Desouky Fahmy for art, and
Gamal Shakra, Howaida Say yied Ali
and Atef Mansour for social sciences.
Moustapha was also the recipient of
Tamayouz Excellence Awards’ Rising
Star prize in 2018.Egypt’s Supreme Council for Culture
(SCC) has announced the winners of
its state awards, presented to those
who have made outstanding achieve-
ments in the fields of art, literature and
social sciences.
Part of a larger awards programme
that also features the Nile Award, Ap-
preciation Awards and Encouragement
Awards, the SCC’s Excellency Award is
given to seven people each year who
have made outstanding contributions.
Each winner recieves a silver medal
and EGP 100,000.
Egyptian architect and academic
Ebtissam Moustapha recieved the Ex-
cellency Award in Arts, for her various
achievements in architecture, design
and education.
Co-founder and managing direc-
tor of the Alexandria-based Encode
Studio and associate professor at Alex-
andria University, Moustapha works
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