Salima Naji wins IMA 2026 Design Awards Grand Prix

Moroccan architect Salima Naji has been awarded the Grand Prix at the 2026 IMA Design Awards in Paris. The award, presented by the Arab World Institute, recognizes her work in contemporary creation and her commitment to preserving architectural heritage.

The winning project is the Tiznit Heritage Interpretation Center, located within the historic ramparts of Tiznit. The structure was built using rammed earth, establishing a dialogue between modern architecture and local heritage. The center aims to showcase both the material and immaterial heritage of the city, featuring collections of vernacular architecture created by local artisans.

Naji, who holds a doctorate in social anthropology and studied architecture in Paris, has focused her practice since 2008 on the preservation of oasis architecture and collective granaries in southern Morocco. She described the award as a recognition of two decades of work involving a “heritage with a future-oriented approach.”