The Sharjah Architecture Triennial (SAT) has revealed further details of its upcoming edition, set to take place from 14 November 2026 to 14 April 2027.
Led by anthropologist-curator Vyjayanthi Rao, with associate curator Tau Tavengwa, the third edition of the triennial will take place under the theme of Architecture Otherwise: Building Civic Infrastructure for Collective Futures. Gathering 32 participants from across the globe, it will delve into the ways in which architecture can serve as a tool to underpin life in an increasingly urbanised and interrelated world.
Working across disciplines that range from architecture, urbanism, art and design to anthropology, community initiatives and education, this edition’s participants will present potential solutions to the question of modern life in cities. Through films, installation work, archival practices and workshops, as well as performances and a series of lectures which will take place across the city of Sharjah, the triennial will be engaging with the wider Emirate to centre local communities and promote dialogue.
A number of projects will be developed in the context of long-term residencies in Sharjah, while other participants will showcase works that speak directly to the urban fabric of the surrounding area. These include a film by Kush Badhwar examining the social and ecological impact of the Navi Mumbai International Airport over the years; a project by Another Empty House looking into support networks created by migrant communities in the Gulf; Aslıhan Demirtaş, Ali Cindoruk and Dilşad Aladağ’s latest iteration of their nomadic structure Tumblespace, a greenhouse proposal designed for harsh arid climates by Azza Aboualam; a celestial-inspired navigation and design system for urban planning by Badriyah Alsalem; a presentation by a trio comprisingHiba Bou Akar, Mohamad Hafeda and Nathalie Harb that explores how displacement can be physically transported in moveable shelters made from materials gathered from refugee camps and temporary housing; Mohamad Nahleh and Ozayr Saloojee working as a duo to speculate on the possibilities opened up by experiencing the urban landscape after nightfall; and Sa’dia Rehman recounting the story of her family’s displacement following the construction of a dam in Pakistan.
Further showcases include Samar Halloum’s Sabeel, Negotiated, which spotlights often passed-over urban zones and those who utilise them as places of respite and socialisation; Social Design Collaborative’s project envisioning new future urban spaces with migrant communities in Sharjah; a video work depicting the varied tempos of life in the city by Sudarshan Shetty; and a group participation by Ziad Jamaleddine, Makram el Kadi, Iheb Guermazi and Beya Othmani in which they will recreate traditional Sufi resting places known as khalwas throughout Sharjah, providing areas of contemplation amid the rapid pace of city life.
Full participant list:
ABARI
Another Empty House
Aslıhan Demirtaş
Ali Cindoruk
Dilşad Aladağ
Azza Aboualam
Badriyah Alsalem
BARDStudio (Rupali Gupte and Prasad Shetty)
Brent Kokonya & Dennis Muraguri
Cassim Shepard
Chloë Bass & Bill Dietz
Curry J. Hackett
Hiba Bou Akar, Mohamad Hafeda & Nathalie Harb
Karachi LaJamia
Keller Easterling
Kevin Kimwelle / Indalo World
Kishwar Rizvi
Kush Badhwar
Let’s Build Great Things!
LionHeart
Megawra Built Environment Collective in collaboration with RIWAQ
Mohamad Nahleh & Ozayr Saloojee
Nashin Mahtani/Disaster Map Foundation
People’s Architecture Office
POCAA (Platform of Community Action and Architecture)
Rajesh Vora and the National Institute of Design
Sa’dia Rehman
Samar Halloum
Social Design Collaborative
Sudarshan Shetty
Tanya Zack, Mark Lewis & Thireshen Govender
Torolab (Raúl Cárdenas)
Yaminay Chaudhri & Karachi Beach Radio
Ziad Jamaleddine, Makram el Kadi, Iheb Guermazi and Beya Othmani
