The Winners of the Shaharsoz-2025 Student Award Were Honored In Tashkent

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 27 November 2025, a ceremonial event was held in Tashkent to honor the winners of the Shaharsoz-2025 student architecture award, one of the key events for young architects, urban planners, and designers in Uzbekistan.

Organized by the Association of Young Architects with the support of the national digital ecosystem Uzum, the award once again demonstrated that student projects are not merely academic exercises, but a real resource for urban development.

This season, more than 300 projects from students of architecture, urban planning, and design faculties across the country were submitted for consideration. The jury evaluated the works based on their relevance to the urban environment, contribution to sustainable development, originality of architectural solutions, and potential for real-world implementation, particularly in the special nomination “Uzum Mahalla.”

In the main category, “Best Graduation Project in Architecture,” Dinara Malikova took the top prize. Her project stands out for its modern architectural approach, thoughtful functionality, and attention to the needs of the urban environment, combining aesthetics with practicality, making it suitable for integration into real construction conditions.

Ilhomjon Rasuljonov won in the category “Urban Planning Solution of the Future” with a scalable model of a sustainable city emphasizing rational land use and improving residents’ quality of life. The jury’s special prize was awarded to Ulugbek Jumambetov for the research depth of his project and its potential influence on future urban planning decisions.

The special nomination “Uzum Mahalla,” implemented in partnership with the Uzum digital ecosystem, highlighted projects aimed at developing local community spaces.

In the “Public Spaces” category, Yusuf Juraev was recognized for harmoniously designing a public area that respects local identity and daily usage patterns. Honorable mentions were awarded to Jahongir Eshnazarov and Vakil Galautdinov. In the “Small Architectural Forms” category, Mahdiya Komilova won for functional and adaptable small architectural forms that create comfortable gathering points within neighborhoods, while Shahlo Amanova received an honorable mention.

“We are impressed by the level of work. It is particularly encouraging that many projects consider the context of local neighborhoods, which is crucial for creating a human-centered urban environment. The national digital ecosystem Uzum is ready to support the authors of the best solutions and discuss implementing their ideas,” said Maria Skorik, Director of External Communications and Social Projects at Uzum.

Tahmina Turdialieva, head of the Association of Young Architects of Uzbekistan and an architect listed among the “100 Women Architects of the World” by the Royal Institute of British Architects, emphasized that Shaharsoz-2025 demonstrates how student projects are moving beyond the “paper stage” to become the foundation for real change. She added that the award helps build bridges between universities, businesses, and municipalities for the practical realization of students’ ideas.

Plans for the next season include expanding the competition’s geographic reach, launching a mentorship program for finalists, and piloting the implementation of winning projects in collaboration with Uzum.

At the conclusion of the award, Tashkent Architecture and Construction University was recognized as “University of the Year” for its active involvement in education, the number of participants, and student achievements. Notable projects from previous years include “Vertical City of the Future” by Otabek Makhmudov, the “Max Penson Center” by Kumush Munavvarova, and the “Agro-Logistics Complex” by Farangiz Olimjonova and Otabek Vakhidov.

As part of Shaharsoz-2025, an architecture quiz was also held at Tashkent Architecture and Construction Institute with over 70 students participating, discussing their ideas with experts and representatives of leading architectural bureaus. “For me, the award became an entry point into the profession. Feedback from experts and the opportunity to discuss my project with colleagues from other universities is an invaluable experience,” said winner Dinara Malikova.

The ceremony brought together representatives of universities, architectural studios, and businesses. The event’s guest of honor was People’s Artist of Uzbekistan Sevara Nazarhan, who emphasized the importance of careful stewardship of the urban environment and the preservation of cultural heritage.