Inclusive Villa Interior Design Competition

Launched in Partnership Between

Sharjah University of Arts and World Disability Union

A special ceremony was held to announce the results of the "Best Inclusive Interior Design for a Villa" competition, organized through a distinguished collaborative partnership between the Sharjah University of the Arts and the World Disability Union (WDU). More than 15 participants took part in the competition, submitting creative and thoughtful design proposals.

From the entries received, three exceptional interior designs were selected as winners. Each proposal was developed to fully accommodate a wide range of needs—including physical mobility impairments, hearing loss, and neurodivergent individuals such as those on the autism spectrum.

The selected designs applied comprehensive accessibility principles throughout:

- Spacious layouts and carefully planned furniture arrangements ensure smooth, unobstructed movement for all users.

- All furniture pieces feature soft, rounded edges with no sharp corners to minimize risk of injury.

- For individuals with hearing impairments, visual alert systems using lighting and visual cues were integrated in place of sound-only signals.

- Designs prioritize abundant natural light to create comfortable, welcoming living spaces.

- Slip-resistant flooring is used everywhere to prevent trips and falls.

- Elevators and ramps are included in full compliance with WDU accessibility standards and building codes.

The participating students presented detailed, clear explanations of their design choices and how each feature directly supports inclusive living.

At the closing ceremony, awards were presented to the winning students by His Excellency Dr. Tariq Sultan bin Khadim, Vice President of the World Disability Union, alongside Dr. Nadia Mahdi Al-Hussein, manager of the Sharjah University of Arts. The Secretary-General of the World Disability Union was also in attendance to celebrate the students’ achievements. The guests congratulated the winners and wished them ongoing success in their future careers.

Dr. Nadia Mahdi Al-Hussein expressed deep gratitude to the World Disability Union for organizing this valuable initiative. Dr. Tariq Sultan bin Khadim expressed his great satisfaction with this fruitful partnership, confirming that collaboration between the two institutions will continue on a permanent basis. He emphasized that building lasting ties with universities and nurturing the talents of the next generation of students is a fundamental goal of the World Disability Union.