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Studio Toggle named the ‘Best Young Architecture Firm’ at Architizer A+ Awards

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Studio Toggle was adjudged the ‘Best Young Architecture Firm’ at the Architizer A+ Awards, 2022. It won the  “Popular Choice Award”, edging four other finalists from the UK and China, chosen out of 5000+ nominations from 100+ countries.

The Architizer A+Awards is the largest awards program in the world, with an audience of more than 400 million subscribers, promoting and celebrating the year’s best architecture and spaces. Its mission is to nurture the appreciation of meaningful architecture worldwide and champion those designers that are integral to bringing great buildings to life. 2022 is the 10th Anniversary of this prestigious award, whose previous winners include Zaha Hadid Architects, Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM), Bjarke Ingels Group etc.

Studio Toggle named the ‘Best Architecture Firm in the Middle East and Africa’ by Architizer

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Studio Toggle was adjudged the ‘Best Architecture Firm in the Middle East and Africa’ at the Architizer A+ Awards, 2022. It won the coveted “Juror’s Choice Award”, edging out four other finalists from Iran and Israel, chosen out of 5000+ nominations from 100+ countries.

The Architizer A+Awards is the largest awards program in the world, with an audience of more than 400 million subscribers, promoting and celebrating the year’s best architecture and spaces. Its mission is to nurture the appreciation of meaningful architecture worldwide and champion those designers that are integral to bringing great buildings to life. 2022 is the 10th Anniversary of this prestigious award, whose previous winners include Zaha Hadid Architects, Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM), Bjarke Ingels Group etc.

Studio Toggle excels at the AIA Intl Awards 2021

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Studio Toggle was presented with two prestigious Merit Awards by the American Institute of Architects International at the annual AIA International conference in November 2021 in Dubai. Project Khat in Al Ula won the Merit Award in the Unbuilt Category, and Project Jade won the Merit Award in the General Architecture category.

Studio Toggle wins the Architizer Award!

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Studio Toggle becomes the first Kuwait-based design firm to win the prestigious Architizer A+ Award for its ‘Project Khat’ in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. The award recognizes the outstanding design qualities of the ‘Project Khat’ envisioned as an artist’s dwelling in the desert landscape of Al Ula, in the ‘Unbuilt Hospitality Category for 2020’

STUDIOTOGGLE WINS TWO AIA AWARDS

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The American Institute of Architects, Middle East chapter chose Studio Toggle to be the proud recipients of two prestigious awards at the 2020 AIA Middle East Design Awards. Studio Toggle won an ‘AIA Honor Award‘ for our Project ‘Khat’ in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. Studio Toggle also won an ‘AIA Merit Award‘ in the Interior Design category!

 

Link: http://www.aiamiddleeast.org/2020-aia-middle-east-design-awards-winners

STUDIO TOGGLE ON IDENTITY 50

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For its 200th issue, identity pays tribute to 50 individuals who have made positive contributions to the development of design, architecture and culture across the MENA region. The list includes designers and architects in the  Middle East and North Africa who have furthered these fields within their respective countries or have expanded the legacy of design onto the world stage. Studio Toggle is honoured to be part of this prestigious list. 

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STUDIO TOGGLE FEATURED ON AD50

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Studio Toggle is featured in the annual AD50 list of the top names in interior decoration, architecture, and product design from across the region, curated by the Architectural Digest magazine. Launched in 2016, the AD50 has since evolved into an annual survey of the top names in interior decoration, architecture, and product design from all over the Middle East.

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STUDIO TOGGLE DAZZLES AT MEA AWARDS 2019

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Studio Toggle won both the awards it was nominated for at the Middle East Architect Awards held in Dubai, hosted by the Middle East Architect Magazine. ‘The House in Mishref’ won the ‘Residential Project of the Year Award’ and Unit+ won the ‘Sustainable Project of the Year Award’. Thank you @middleeastarchitect for this recognition and we thank all our collaborators, clients and our wonderful team based in Kuwait and Portugal for your constant support and hard work.

Hend Almatrouk

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Hend Almatrouk is from Kuwait and did her Bachelor of Architecture in the American University of Sharjah, graduating in 2008. She went on to do her master’s degree in Urban Strategies (Excessive, Hernan Diaz Alonso) from the Universität Für Angewandte Kunst, Vienna and graduated with distinction in 2011. In 2011, she established Studio Toggle with Gijo Paul George, a fellow Die Angewandte graduate. By 2016, she established Studio Toggle Porto branch in Portugal.

As the CEO and partner, she is in charge of client relations and marketing while being heavily been involved in the design, site supervision, and planning. Hend has overseen the growth of Studio Toggle from a 2 person team working out of a Cafe to a medium-sized firm of 12 employees operating from 2 global offices in Kuwait City and Porto.

Her work was exhibited in multiple prestigious venues like the Venice Biennale 2010, Essence 2011 at MAK, Vienna, and The Experimental Architecture Biennale Vol 01 in Prague. In recognition of her achievements, she was named the Young Architect of the Year in 2017 by the prestigious Middle East Architecture magazine for the “Undeniable strides she made in a short period of time, with projects that continue to positively contribute to the growing urban fabric of the GCC”

Gijo Paul George

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Gijo Paul George Chembakassery is the Co-Founder and Principal Architect of Studio Toggle.

He graduated in Architecture from the University of Kerala (T.K.M.C.E) in 2007. From 2007-2009 he worked with multiple practices of varying sizes in India and Kuwait while obtaining his LEEP AP certification. In 2009, he started pursuing his Master’s Degree in Urban Design (Brain City Lab, Wolf D Prix) at the Universität Für Angewandte Kunst (Die Angewandte) in Vienna.

In 2011 he Co-Founded the experimental architectural practice Studio Toggle in Vienna with fellow Die Angewandte graduate Hend Almatrouk and relocated to Kuwait in 2012. As the Principal Architect of Studio Toggle he has guided the firm to winning multiple prestigious architecture awards like ‘Middle East Architect Awards 2016’ (Residential Project of the year), ‘Cityscape awards 2017’ (Best low to mid-rise residential building of the year) ‘Middle East Architect Awards 2018’(Boutique Architecture Firm of the Year) etc.

He is also an enthusiastic photographer and is the de-facto photographer for all Studio Toggle projects.

Rui Gonçalves

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Rui Gonçalves (Braga, 1982), completes his Architecture Degree by the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto in 2007. After working with J.M. Carvalho Araújo, he concludes his thesis on Rafael Moneo, presented at IJUP 08 – University Young Investigators conference.

After the 2nd internship in Oporto (2006-2011), where he wins the Pyramid Channel Bridge Design Competition (Aveiro) and designs schools (Porto, Vimioso) and Elderly Community Centre in Porto, he initiates his independent practice in 2007.

The design and construction supervision of Costa Verde Kindergarten (Espinho, 2008-2013) starts his involvement in project coordination and construction management of commercial and housing projects, having won the Limited Competition for Housing Complex in Azurara in 2013. Joins Studio Toggle in 2015.