SPPG - Sustainable Public Places Group

16/07/2026

What an incredible energy we had at the event celebrating our brilliant young designers! We were absolutely thrilled to host the official ceremony to announce the winners of the Flexi Bench Design Competition and hand over their well-deserved prizes.

Looking at the photos, the pride, joy, and passion in the room are undeniable. It was a wonderful opportunity to see our community come together, honor the hard work of all the participants, and present the awards to our outstanding top three groups.

A huge congratulations once again to:
🥇 1st Place (Group 12): Moaz Mohamed Abdelsatar Elsayed & Sahar Moataz Hassan
🥈 2nd Place (Group 2): Mohamed Loay Mahmoud, Fady Yasser Kamal, Yasser Osama Jumaa, & Mohamed Abdul-Jawad Abdul-Halem
🥉 3rd Place (Group 11): Monica Emad Abd El-Malak Makar, Abdallah Adel Kamal Ahmed, Lojain Ahmed Abdel Moneim Abdel Kawy, Seif Elden Mohamed Adel, & Anas Ayman Saad Soliman

These designs are a true testament to how creative, flexible public seating can transform our shared spaces. Thank you to our jury, coordinators, and everyone who joined us to make this event so memorable.

Special Thanks to the SPPG Team:
Prof. Mona Helmy
Prof. Husam Bakr
Assoc. Prof. Yomna Lotfi
Dr. Dalia Al-Khateeb
Architect Joyce Sherif
Architect Ayatallah Raafat
Architect Maryam Bazaraah

Swipe through the gallery to relive the best moments of the day!

15/07/2026

We are incredibly proud to present the talented minds behind the winning designs:

🥇 1st Place: Group 12
Moaz Mohamed Abdelsatar Elsayed
Sahar Moataz Hassan

🥈 2nd Place: Group 2
Mohamed Loay Mahmoud
Fady Yasser Kamal
Yasser Osama Jumaa
Mohamed Abdul-Jawad Abdul-Halem

🥉 3rd Place: Group 11
Monica Emad Abd El-Malak Makar
Abdallah Adel Kamal Ahmed
Lojain Ahmed Abdel Moneim Abdel Kawy
Seif Elden Mohamed Adel
Anas Ayman Saad Soliman

A massive congratulations to our winners for their exceptional design thinking, and another huge thank you to everyone who participated! You have all set a brilliant standard for the future of flexible public spaces.

15/07/2026

We are absolutely thrilled and deeply inspired by the incredible response to the Flexi Bench Design Competition! A massive thank you to every single designer, student, and visionary who poured their passion, creativity, and hard work into this challenge.

The level of innovation we witnessed was truly outstanding. From smart modular concepts to beautifully sustainable public seating solutions, every submission brought something unique to the table. Seeing such dedicated talent pushing the boundaries of public space design has been an absolute privilege.

Because the caliber of work was so incredibly high, our jury members had an exceptionally tough decision to make. Every single project showcased brilliant critical thinking and design excellence, making the evaluation process both a joy and an intense challenge.

09/07/2026

FLEXI-BENCH Design Competition: Jury Evaluation Completed!

We are thrilled to announce that the evaluation session for the FLEXI-BENCH Design Competition has officially taken place! Our panel of esteemed judges spent a highly inspiring session reviewing an incredible array of innovative, human-centered public seating designs tailored for public environments. A huge thank you to all the brilliant young designers, students, and fresh graduates who submitted their creative visions!

We extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation to our distinguished external jurors for lending their immense expertise, time, and valuable insights to this competition:

- Prof. Ahmed H Radwan – Dean of the School of Arts & Design Technology at Elsewedy University of Technology

- Prof. Amr Hedeya– Professor. At the faculty of Applied Arts, Consultant, and Certified Trainer

-Assoc. Prof. Ghada Amin – Associate Professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Capital University
We also want to thank our dedicated SPPG Members for their continuous efforts in making this initiative a success! Prof. Mona Helmy, Prof. Husam Bakr , Assoc. Prof. Yomna Lotfi, Architect Maryam Bazaraah, Architect joyce sherif, and Architect Aya Raafat.

What’s Next?
The final results are being wrapped up! The winners will be contacted directly very soon with the official announcement details and invitations to attend the upcoming Award Ceremony.

Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you all for shaping the future of public spaces with us!

23/06/2026

SUBMISSION DEADLINE APPROACHING! : 1 July 2026
Kindly Note that fabrication files will be required from announced winners!

Calling all young designers, students, and fresh graduates! Join the Flexi-Bench Design Competition to showcase your creativity by designing innovative, social, and flexible seating for outdoor public spaces. You can apply individually or as a team for a chance to win prizes up to 15,000 EGP, so be sure to scan the QR code or use this link: https://forms.gle/zPtBy8HqbTK3x8nG8 to register before the July 1, 2026 deadline!
Find the competition brief using the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KnhLUkg0AfVWgLJYXoXDFMpxf68NhPQm/view?usp=sharing

07/06/2026

Reflecting on last year’s Hues of Life competition jury remains a standout moment for us. The energy in the room that day was truly electric, and looking back, the Sustainable Public Places Research Group couldn’t be prouder of how everything unfolded.

It was more than just a review session; it was a vibrant exchange of ideas where creativity met purpose. Seeing the participants pour their vision into their designs, and witnessing the depth of critical discussion from the jury, left a lasting impression on all of us. The passion for transformative, human-centric design was palpable, and it reinforced exactly why we do what we do.

To everyone involved—the jurors, the participants, and the team behind the scenes—thank you for making Hues of Life such a memorable success. That day set a high bar for our future endeavors, and we’re still feeling the inspiration it sparked.

07/06/2026

SUBMISSION DEADLINE APPROACHING!

Calling all students, fresh graduates, and young designers! Time is running out to submit your proposals for the FLEXI-BENCH Design Competition. The final deadline is coming up on July 1, 2026.

Submission Deadline: 1 July 2026
How to enter: Simply scan the QR code on the poster to register and submit!
Link for the brief: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KnhLUkg0AfVWgLJYXoXDFMpxf68NhPQm/view?usp=drive_link

Don't wait until the last minute—let's see how your creative vision can transform our urban environments!

Calling all young designers, students, and fresh graduates! Join the Flexi-Bench Design Competition to showcase your creativity by designing innovative, social, and flexible seating for outdoor public spaces. You can apply individually or as a team for a chance to win prizes up to 15,000 EGP, so be sure to scan the QR code or use this link: https://forms.gle/zPtBy8HqbTK3x8nG8 to register before the July 1, 2026 deadline!
Find the competition brief using the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KnhLUkg0AfVWgLJYXoXDFMpxf68NhPQm/view?usp=sharing

07/06/2026

Got questions about the competition? We've got answers!

We’ve been receiving some great questions from you all, so we’ve put together this quick FAQ to help you finalize your designs.

🔹 Is there an age limit for participants?
The competition is open to both students and young professionals!

🔹 Is there a maximum number of members allowed per team?
No. There is currently no maximum limit on the number of members per team.

🔹 Is there a registration fee?
No, participation is completely free of charge.

🔹 How do I register for the competition?
You can register quickly and easily right here: https://forms.gle/1gsKk31XNQdQg5QN6

🔹 What does the 2m × 2m × 2m requirement mean?
Your entire design must fit entirely within an imaginary cube measuring 2m in width, 2m in depth, and 2m in height.

🔹 Can the bench be modular or transformable?
Yes! Transformable or modular designs are welcome, provided that the complete design still remains within the maximum 2m × 2m × 2m envelope.

🔹 Where can I find the competition brief?
You can access the full brief provided by the organizers through the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KnhLUkg0AfVWgLJYXoXDFMpxf68NhPQm/view?usp=drive_link

🔹 How do I submit my proposal?
Proposals should be submitted using the specific submission form link located inside the competition brief.

🔹 How will winners be notified?
Winning teams will be contacted directly by the organizers.

We can't wait to see your innovative ideas! Let us know in the comments if you have any other questions. 👇✨

06/05/2026

Calling all young designers, students, and fresh graduates! Join the Flexi-Bench Design Competition to showcase your creativity by designing innovative, social, and flexible seating for outdoor public spaces. You can apply individually or as a team for a chance to win prizes up to 15,000 EGP, so be sure to scan the QR code or use this link: https://forms.gle/zPtBy8HqbTK3x8nG8 to register before the July 1, 2026 deadline!
Find the competition brief using the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KnhLUkg0AfVWgLJYXoXDFMpxf68NhPQm/view?usp=sharing