Mediterranea University's architecture thesis wins the Luigi Zordan Award.

The thesis “Architecture as an Act of Healing: Vision for Conflict and Post-Conflict Territories” by Mohamed Aboulfotouh and Mohi Elgayar , developed within the Master's Degree Course in Architecture (LM4-cu) of the dAeD Department of the Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, was the winner of Section A of the IX edition of the “Luigi Zordan” Degree Thesis Award (2024–2026) , one of the main national awards in the field of architecture and building engineering-architecture. 

The work stands out for its original approach and its ability to interpret architecture as an active tool for transformation in conflict-ridden territories. The thesis proposes a reinterpretation of the concept of border, transforming it from an element of separation to an infrastructure capable of generating new conditions of accessibility, services, and public space, restoring continuity and quality to the landscape and communities. 

This result confirms the value of the Master's Degree program and the role of the dAdD Department in promoting a design culture oriented toward research, innovation, and social responsibility. The thesis was developed as part of the Double Degree Program between dAdD and Ain Shams University in Cairo, launched in 2018. 

The thesis was developed under the guidance of supervisors Marina Tornatora, Ottavio Amaro and Francesca Schepis . 

The winner will be awarded a six-month professional internship at the international studio EM2N in Zurich , offering an important opportunity for comparison in the European context. 

The official announcement is scheduled for May 14, 2026, in the Aula Magna of the Engineering campus in Monteluco di Roio (L'Aquila), during the Luigi Zordan Award ceremony, accompanied by the opening of the exhibition of the works.