About
UT- r studio is a research practice based in Dubai and New York that investigates the multitudes in which design can elevate the relationship between cultural context and the built environment. UT- r studio was founded by Uthra Varghese and Tasnim Tinawi in 2016 when they met at the American University of Sharjah. At its core, UT- r studio is a research driven collaboration that seeks to critically address issues of climate change, postcolonial landscapes, migration and gender-biased societies. In order to do so, the studio’s work spans across the disciplines of architecture, art, installation, photography and product design. The studio has participated in many competitions and commissions at various scales and seeks innovative design methods through formal and material experiments.
Exhibitions:
- 2024, Shifting Sands, Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
- 2022, Coralscape, Sikka Art Fair, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2021, Tanween, Tashkeel, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2021, The Kapok Collection, A Decade of Design at Tashkeel, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2021, Artifacts: Vacant Sands, Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation Residency, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
- 2021, Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, Ras Al Khaimah, U.A.E.
- 2020, Reparations, End of Year Show, Columbia Unviersity, New York, U.S.A.
- 2020, Youth Assembly, Jameel Arts Center, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2020, Earth Vessels, Alserkal Cultural Foundation Exhibition, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2020, Plastextile, Plastic, Tashkeel, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2020, Re-dressing the Renaissance, Ras Al Khamiah Fine Arts Festival, Ras Al Khaimah, U.A.E.
- 2019, Agri-Industrial Housing, Shaping the Future, Sharjah Architecture Triennial, Sharjah, U.A.E.
- 2018, Duo-Loop, Proto-Pieces, Dubai Design District, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2018, Six Degrees, Dubai Design District, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2017, Aggregate Archive, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
- 2017, Aggregate Archive, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Recognition:
- 2024, Arctic Circle Artist Residency
- 2020, William Kinne Fellows Prize
- 2019, ACSA/AIA Housing Design Education Award
- 2019, Christo and Jeanne Claude Award, Finalist
- 2018, World Architecture Community Award, Dubai Maritime Museum
- 2017, Berlin School without Classrooms, Finalist, Architecture Competition
- 2017, GAMMA Young Artist Award Winner
- 2016, Paris Peace Pavilion, Honorable Mention, Archasm Competition
Features:
- 2022, Meet the Designer, Tanween by Tashkeel
- 2021, Identity Magazine, Kapok
- 2021, Women in Leadership: 4 Arab Female Designers Participating in Tanween
- 2020, Abstract, Columbia GSAPP
- 2020, Game-Changing Architecture Graduates, The Funambulist
- 2020, Verticals Platform: Regeneration/Degeneration by Jameel Arts Center
- 2020, 160 Artworks, 34 Countries: RAK Arts Fest celebrates the world’s communities, Friday Magazine, Gulf News- 2019, Rethinking the Future, Agri-Industrial Housing
- 2018, Re-dressing the Renaissance, Harper’s Bazaar Art Arabia, Sikorski, S.
- 2018, A homage to Raphael, Gulf News, Weekend Review, Kalsi, J.
- 2018, AUS Students recreate Raphaelite Masterpiece, Gulf News
- 2018, Sharjah Students “Recreate” Raphaelite Masterpiece, Kuwait Times, Peter, S.
- 2018, Design Boom: Design Week 2018. Feature of Duo-Loop
- 2018, Rethinking the Future, Dubai Maritime Museum
- 2024, Shifting Sands, Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
- 2022, Coralscape, Sikka Art Fair, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2021, Tanween, Tashkeel, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2021, The Kapok Collection, A Decade of Design at Tashkeel, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2021, Artifacts: Vacant Sands, Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation Residency, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
- 2021, Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, Ras Al Khaimah, U.A.E.
- 2020, Reparations, End of Year Show, Columbia Unviersity, New York, U.S.A.
- 2020, Youth Assembly, Jameel Arts Center, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2020, Earth Vessels, Alserkal Cultural Foundation Exhibition, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2020, Plastextile, Plastic, Tashkeel, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2020, Re-dressing the Renaissance, Ras Al Khamiah Fine Arts Festival, Ras Al Khaimah, U.A.E.
- 2019, Agri-Industrial Housing, Shaping the Future, Sharjah Architecture Triennial, Sharjah, U.A.E.
- 2018, Duo-Loop, Proto-Pieces, Dubai Design District, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2018, Six Degrees, Dubai Design District, Dubai, U.A.E.
- 2017, Aggregate Archive, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
- 2017, Aggregate Archive, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Recognition:
- 2024, Arctic Circle Artist Residency
- 2020, William Kinne Fellows Prize
- 2019, ACSA/AIA Housing Design Education Award
- 2019, Christo and Jeanne Claude Award, Finalist
- 2018, World Architecture Community Award, Dubai Maritime Museum
- 2017, Berlin School without Classrooms, Finalist, Architecture Competition
- 2017, GAMMA Young Artist Award Winner
- 2016, Paris Peace Pavilion, Honorable Mention, Archasm Competition
Features:
- 2022, Meet the Designer, Tanween by Tashkeel
- 2021, Identity Magazine, Kapok
- 2021, Women in Leadership: 4 Arab Female Designers Participating in Tanween
- 2020, Abstract, Columbia GSAPP
- 2020, Game-Changing Architecture Graduates, The Funambulist
- 2020, Verticals Platform: Regeneration/Degeneration by Jameel Arts Center
- 2020, 160 Artworks, 34 Countries: RAK Arts Fest celebrates the world’s communities, Friday Magazine, Gulf News- 2019, Rethinking the Future, Agri-Industrial Housing
- 2018, Re-dressing the Renaissance, Harper’s Bazaar Art Arabia, Sikorski, S.
- 2018, A homage to Raphael, Gulf News, Weekend Review, Kalsi, J.
- 2018, AUS Students recreate Raphaelite Masterpiece, Gulf News
- 2018, Sharjah Students “Recreate” Raphaelite Masterpiece, Kuwait Times, Peter, S.
- 2018, Design Boom: Design Week 2018. Feature of Duo-Loop
- 2018, Rethinking the Future, Dubai Maritime Museum
© UT-R studio