Researchers from the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research have won two architecture prizes. 

Dr. Aviva Peeters who was voted “Best Lecturer” three years running at the Albert Katz International School of Desert Studies, won first prize in the category of research awarded by the Israeli journal Architecture of Israel and the EU annual Project of the Year Competition. Her research topic was ”Automated Recognition of Urban 3D Morphology.” 

The international and Israeli panel of judges awarded second place in the same category to members of the University’s Department of Man in the Desert at the Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental Research for their “Design Manual for Bio-Climatic Construction in Israel.” The authors are Prof. David Pearlmutter (head of the department), Prof. Evyatar Erell, Prof. Isaac Meir, the late Prof. Yair Etzion, and Dr. Yodan Rofe.

First published in 1988, Architecture of Israel is a high quality publication dealing with local architectural issues within the global context. Written by and for architects, AI is composed of unique articles focused on a diversity of contemporary issues, enhanced by outstanding photography featuring some of the world's most compelling architectural creations. As such, AI is regarded the leading architectural magazine in the Middle East, and one of the best of its kind in the world. 

This is the fourth year the quarterly has held the Project of the Yearcompetition in conjunction with the EU.