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Muharraq: The Latest Architecture and News

Climate, Craft, and Continuity: Behind the Global Recognition of Bahrain’s Architecture

Bahrain's architectural participations in the international exhibitions have gained increasing global recognition, marked most recently by major awards at Expo 2025 Osaka and the Venice Architecture Biennale. These milestones reflect a broader trajectory in which the country's design culture, rooted in climatic intelligence and cultural continuity, has become a prominent voice in international conversations on context-driven architecture.

This growing visibility builds upon a deep architectural lineage. Bahrain's identity has long been shaped by its position as a maritime crossroads of the Arabian Gulf, where the legacy of pearling settlements and the compact urban fabric of Muharraq and Manama reveal a dialogue between local traditions and global exchange. Today, that dialogue evolves through practices that merge preservation with experimentation, translating heritage into a contemporary architectural language that is both place-specific and forward-looking.

Climate, Craft, and Continuity:  Behind the Global Recognition of Bahrain’s Architecture - Image 1 of 4Climate, Craft, and Continuity:  Behind the Global Recognition of Bahrain’s Architecture - Image 2 of 4Climate, Craft, and Continuity:  Behind the Global Recognition of Bahrain’s Architecture - Image 3 of 4Climate, Craft, and Continuity:  Behind the Global Recognition of Bahrain’s Architecture - Image 4 of 4Climate, Craft, and Continuity:  Behind the Global Recognition of Bahrain’s Architecture - More Images+ 4

Visiting 2019 Aga Khan Award Laureates

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When the winners of the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture are announced every three years, the architecture celebrated is arguably the best, most important work found around the world. While the 2022 cycle announcements are imminent, looking back at the six project laureates from 2019 proves to be a fruitful review.

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35 Green Corner Building / Studio Anne Holtrop

35 Green Corner Building / Studio Anne Holtrop - Exterior Photography, Learning, Facade35 Green Corner Building / Studio Anne Holtrop - Exterior Photography, Learning35 Green Corner Building / Studio Anne Holtrop - Interior Photography, Learning, Bathroom35 Green Corner Building / Studio Anne Holtrop - Exterior Photography, Learning35 Green Corner Building / Studio Anne Holtrop - More Images+ 26

Christian Kerez Designs Parking Structure in Bahrain as Part of the Pearl Path Project

Since 2002, the historic city of Muharraq, the third-largest in Bahrain, has been the protagonist of a comprehensive preservation and development project meant to highlight its pearling history and improve the urban environment. Building on Muharraq’s legacy are several new structures designed by world-renowned architects to create the framework for the city’s revival, among which are four multistorey car parks designed by Christian Kerez and set to be completed this year. The structures envisioned not as car storage but as public spaces feature curved slabs that create a continuous transition from one level to the other while shaping a constantly changing spatial experience.

Christian Kerez Designs Parking Structure in Bahrain as Part of the Pearl Path Project  - Image 3 of 4Christian Kerez Designs Parking Structure in Bahrain as Part of the Pearl Path Project  - Image 4 of 4Christian Kerez Designs Parking Structure in Bahrain as Part of the Pearl Path Project  - Image 2 of 4Christian Kerez Designs Parking Structure in Bahrain as Part of the Pearl Path Project  - Image 1 of 4Christian Kerez Designs Parking Structure in Bahrain as Part of the Pearl Path Project  - More Images+ 9

Pearling Site Museum and Entrance / Valerio Olgiati

Pearling Site Museum and Entrance / Valerio Olgiati - Landmarks & MonumentsPearling Site Museum and Entrance / Valerio Olgiati - Landmarks & MonumentsPearling Site Museum and Entrance / Valerio Olgiati - Landmarks & MonumentsPearling Site Museum and Entrance / Valerio Olgiati - Landmarks & MonumentsPearling Site Museum and Entrance / Valerio Olgiati - More Images+ 11

Khalifeyah Library / SeARCH

Khalifeyah Library / SeARCH - Library, Beam, Facade, Arch, Column, LightingKhalifeyah Library / SeARCH - Library, FacadeKhalifeyah Library / SeARCH - Library, Beam, Facade, Door, Handrail, FenceKhalifeyah Library / SeARCH - Library, Facade, Beam, HandrailKhalifeyah Library / SeARCH - More Images+ 14

Muharraq, Bahrain
  • Architects: SeARCH
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  600
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2016
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  dormakaba, Moooi, Rider glass, SARMAT, Vitra