Elias and Yousef Anastas 2026 Berlin Art Prize | Lecture | Talk

Elias and Yousef Anastas are among the most outstanding architects of their generation. The jury for the 2026 Berlin Art Prize in the Architecture category – comprising George Arbid, President of the Arab Centre for Architecture in Beirut, and Philipp Oswalt and Donata Valentien, members of the Architecture Section of the Academy of Arts – selected them as this year’s prize-winners.

Having grown up in a Palestinian family of architects, they studied and worked in France before returning to Bethlehem. There, in 2012, they founded ‘Local Industries’, a collective for design and furniture production, and in 2016 ‘SCALES’, a research platform dedicated to linking otherwise separate levels of scale.

Through their practice, AAU Anastas, they have realised public and cultural buildings, including the courthouse in Tulkarem (2015), the courthouse in Hebron (2021), a gallery space in the Benedictine monastery of Abu Ghosh (2019) and the conversion of Dar AlMajus into a community centre in Bethlehem (2023).

Also in 2023, ‘The Wonder Cabinet’ was established on the outskirts of Bethlehem; this is an experimental production space for architects, designers, chefs, craftspeople, musicians and artists, housed in a new three-storey building. They received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2025 for this project.

The art prize certificate will be presented by Manos Tsangaris, President of the Academy of Arts, and Anh-Linh Ngo, Vice-President of the Academy of Arts and member of the Architecture Section. Elias and Yousef Anastas will provide an insight into their extensive body of work. The introduction will be given by the jurors George Arbid and Philipp Oswalt; Philipp Oswalt will also moderate the subsequent discussion.

Welcome and presentation of the art prize certificate:

Manos Tsangaris, President of the Academy of Arts

Anh-Linh Ngo, Vice-President of the Academy of Arts

Introduction:

• George Arbid, President of the Arab Centre for Architecture, Beirut
• Philipp Oswalt, Member of the Architecture Section
• Lecture:
• Elias and Yousef Anastas, 2026 Art Prize winners

Discussion:

• Elias and Yousef Anastas with George Arbid and Philipp Oswalt

IN ENGLISH