ABOUT
Welcome to the ADA Awards, an international competition recognizing excellence in architecture, design, and art.
ADA extends its portfolio towards the inclusive recognition of great works in all disciplines and the creative minds behind it. ADA AWARDS aims to place Pakistan in the global arena with works aligned towards international recognition and in parallel recognize celebrities of the creative fields that impact lives, inspire generations, and leave a legacy of exceptional works.
The ADA Awards is an ADA initiative. ADA – Architecture Design Art is a magazine for architects, designers, artists, and related professionals practicing in Pakistan. Pakistan’s only bi-monthly architecture, design, and art publication, ADA has been in continuous publication since 2008. This national review of design and practice documents significant architecture art and design from across the country and features articles on current practice, building technology, art renditions, and social issues affecting society and lifestyles.
In its inaugural cycle, the ADA Awards provides an opportunity for the region’s creative talent to present innovative and original works to be considered by a jury of leading figures from the world of architecture, interiors, art, and design. A panel of national and international experts drawn from each of the disciplines will meet together to review the submissions and choose the winners. The 2018 ADA Awards program is open to works completed by a Pakistani individual or firm in the disciplines of architecture, design, and art, before December 31, 2017. Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on January 19, 2019.
CURATOR
A prolific writer, architectural historian, and environmental activist, working in the fields of interior design, architecture, heritage and urban-revitalisation; Maria Aslam is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of ADA Magazine from Pakistan. The first female entrepreneur to delve in publication which under her leadership pioneered the ADA Awards, the first of its kind, in the disciplines of Architecture, Design, and Art from Pakistan. She is also the Founder and Principal Architect of ArchWorks – a Karachi-based creative + research practice whose work exists in the chaotic overlaps of architecture, urbanism, landscape, interiors and cultural geographies.
The office/activism platform is working on several fronts – that include architecture, interiors, environmental geographies, community settlements and curatorial ventures including exhibitions, seminars, installations and speculative projects. She has served the Institute of Pakistan (IAP) as Chairperson Karachi Chapter and is currently the Chairperson of Pakistan Institute of Interior Designers, (PIID). She is the author of; ‘Interiors of Pakistan Volume I’ published in 2016 and is working on two more publications. With a Bachelor of Architecture from Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture and a Master’s in Architecture from McGill University, she contends for environment, built structures and equitable spaces. Aslam has represented Pakistan on multitude of platforms as juror, critic, convener, and speaker internationally.
ADVISORY BOARD
Gulzar Haider is a teacher, practitioner, and theoretician who centers his research on Islamic architecture. Serving as the Dean of the School of Architecture and Design at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, he has established one of the most eminent academic programs in the country through his tireless dedication and experience.
Senator (R) Javed Jabbar is a screenwriter, filmmaker, and advertising mogul. As an elected member of the Senate of Pakistan, he has with extensive experience in public affairs, grass-root development, welfare organizations, international affairs, and a variety of government departments. Beyond his political career,
Mehreen Rizvi Khursheed is an art advisor to several collectors and a consultant to Frieze Art Fair in London and New York; she is also a trustee of the Lahore Biennale Foundation UK, member of the Steering Committee of the Aga Khan Museum patrons in London, and founding member of the South Asian Acquisition Committee
Dr. Haider has won numerous research and development grants, while lecturing across North America, Europe, and Asia; additionally, he has been a design consultant to several architectural practices and a juror to many international architectural competitions.
His work for international organizations, including the UN and the OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference) is highly regarded. With over 55 papers, reports, and articles, his interest in mathematics and architectural structures has led to the publication of unique and innovative research.
he is the founder of MNJ Communications (Pvt.), known for producing distinctive and unique advertising content. He wrote and produced the Pakistani film ‘Ramchand Pakistani’ and ‘Beyond the Last Mountain’ (1976) which was critically acclaimed at international film festivals; the film was celebrated due to its realistic and gender-sensitive portrayal of women.
Through his vast experience, he has mentored successful marketing and advertising practitioners; additionally, he was also the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the AdAsia 2019, promoting more impactful and thoughtful advertising in the country.
of the Aga Khan Museum patrons in London, and founding member of the South Asian Acquisition Committee (SAAC) at Tate Modern, UK. Mehreen has played a pivotal role in developing the Pakistani art market.
Under her guidance, Bonhams has become a leader in Pakistani art, and still holds records for most of the major artists. She arranged the first ever auction of Middle Eastern art in the USA in May 2010.
Salima Hashmi is an academic, artist, activist, curator, and contemporary art historian. She is the founding Dean of the Mariam Dawood School of Visual Art and Design at Beaconhouse National University; a Professor of Fine Art at National College of Arts for thirty years, and served as the Principal of the College for four years.
With more than 30 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and media management, Sarmad Ali stands as the Managing Director of Jang Media Group, Pakistan’s largest media conglomerate, sustaining a presence in print, broadcast, and the digital space. Prior to this, he worked as Director Client Services
Suha Ozkan is an architect, architectural theorist, and the author of a number of books on contemporary architecture; he is also the former Secretary-General of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and Founding President of World Architecture Community. From 1982-2007, he helped establish the Aga Khan Award
As an extension of her role as a curator and academic, Hashmi has established an art gallery of her own, known for featuring experimental works of young artists, it supports the evolving voice of Pakistani art; often it is the challenging and the avant-garde that will find its way into her gallery.
Additionally, she curated the critically acclaimed exhibition ‘This Night-Bitten Dawn’, hosted by the Gujral Foundation and the Devi Art Foundation in Delhi, which opened at the Delhi Art Fair, 2016. As an artist and activist, Hashmi’s work focuses on the suffering of women in Pakistan’s highly patriarchal society, a journey that began under the rule of Zia-ul-Haq.
for IAL/Saatchi.Presently,he is also the Secretary General of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and has previously served as its President and Joint Secretary.
Described as of one of Pakistan’s marketing thought leaders, Sarmad was awarded the coveted Marketing Excellence Award 1999 and was ranked amongst Pakistan’s Top 100 Business Leaders. Sarmad received the Asian Brand Leadership Award from the Asian Brand Congress in 2007 and the 50 Most Talented CMOs Award at the World Marketing Summit in 2013.
He was the Chairman AdAsia 2019 Organizing Committee; is the President of the International Advertising Association’s Pakistan Chapter; and serves on the council of the World Branding Forum. He has also been on the Jury of the Global AME Awards as well as the M&M Global Media Marketing & Advertising Awards, Festival of Media Awards, and INMA awards.
His Classifieds campaign that included the use of QR Codes won WAN-IFRA’s Asian Media Award for Best in Newspaper Marketing in 2016 and PAS Awards 2017, while his augmented reality campaign – Jang Real – won WAN-IFRA’s Best Innovation New Product in 2017.
as one of the premier architectural institutions of the world dedicated to the recognition and celebration of work of highest excellence.
Dr. Ozkan is also involved with a number of universities and institutions including METU, the UIA, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements and the Hassan Fathy Institute.
