10 New Global Design Leaders Inducted to the 11th Annual A+Awards Jury
While 20th-century architects may have theorized the aesthetics of global modernism, it wasn’t until the 21st century that architectural practice truly became global. Whether it be global firms with multiple offices that cross borders and oceans, materials that circulate around the globe, or simply inspiration — the sheer number of photos and plans of buildings from elsewhere that now find themselves in front of architects everywhere — all architectural practices take part in a larger global culture.
Architizer’s A+Awards, now open for entries with a Final Deadline of January 27th 2023, celebrate, reflect and advance this radical circulation of architectural ideas. Counting winners from over 100 different countries, the program is breaking architecture out of its geographic echo chamber, celebrating innovative firms from diverse regions around the world.
With a prestigious jury comprised of thought leaders from every continent, the 11th Annual A+Awards promises to be a truly global celebration, uncovering modern vernacular architecture designed by firms with an intimate understanding of their local region, culture and people. The awards program also allows designers to get their work in front of some of the brightest minds worldwide. Look no further than the 10 latest leaders who have been added to our global jury of over 250 leaders from around the world:
Ammar Al Assam
CEO of Dewan Architects + Engineers
Ammar Al Assam is the Chief Executive Officer at Dewan Architects + Engineers. He joined Dewan in 2001, and has taken the lead in developing and implementing the strategic plan for the growth of Dewan into a regional multi-disciplinary and multi-market leading A&E firm. In 2007, Ammar led the transaction team that secured a strategic investor in the form of Ithmar Capital, a leading regional private equity firm, thereby allowing the firm to successfully expand within the region and penetrate new markets.
Serving as both Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Directors, Ammar continues to be actively involved in the development of new business opportunities, harnessing strategic relationships and partnerships, and breaking into new vertical and geographical markets. Dewan has successfully set up offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahgdad, Barcelona, Riyadh, Cairo, Manilla, and Vietnam in the last seven years. With the growing importance of environmental consciousness and the need for expertise in designing buildings that are green, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.
Ma Ning
Founding Partner at MARS-Studio
Ma Ning, founding partner of MARS Studio. Born in China, Ning graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a master’s degree in architecture. Prior to the founding MARS-Studio, Ning worked in MAD Architects in Beijing and Bjarke Ingels Group (B.I.G) in New York. His past design projects include S.Pellegrino Flagship Factory in Italy, Harbin Theater, Xiamen Xinhee Headquarters, Sanya Phoenix Island Villas, Taipei Bade Road Residential Towers, Brooklyn Twin Towers, Ecuador super high-rise residence and so on.
Ning founded MARS-Studio in New York in 2019 and subsequently opened a Beijing office in 2020. In short years since opening MARS-Studio has won numerous international awards and has gained wide media, including Archdaily, Designboom, Gooood, Dezeen, Inheritage, Aspects Media, AC Architecture, Hospitality Design Magazine, Global Design, IFDM, IDEAT and many others.
MARS projects have been selected as Architizer A+Awards winners in 2021 and 2022. Ning has been selected for the AD100 YOUNG in 2022.
Steve Trstenjak
Design Director of Gensler
Steve is an accomplished architect operating at a leadership level focusing on the design and delivery of large complex, multi-disciplinary architectural projects. In his 30 years of international experience, Steve has worked with several leading global architectural practices on multiple award-winning projects covering a variety of sectors and typologies. Steve is dedicated to humanistic architecture, sustainability and impactful design. He drives rigorous research, deep understanding and innovation to ensure optimal solutions and outcomes.
Patcharada Inplang and Thongchai Chansamak
Co-Founders of Sher Maker
A small team of architect and craftsmen who design and build the work through local methodology of architecture, Sher Maker aims to drive the potential of small local construction unit in complicated capitalism condition that occupy the design pool. This is achieved by developing projects from the smallest unit like a sort of material experimental and research that relate with a cultural and natural context in each specific project.
With a strong intention of the rooted process and meaning behind architecture methodology formation, they pursue design that affects the building in many depths, including dimensional, spatial, ambient and human dimensions. They believe the language of architecture will show out by the suitable method in each specific society environment.
Rajeev Kathpalia
Designated Partner at Vastushilpa Sangath
Rajeev Kathpalia is a designated partner at Vastushilpa Sangath LLP (formerly Vastu Shilpa Consultants), the multi-disciplinary practice founded in 1955 by the Pritzker laureate Balkrishna Doshi. Kathpalia’s work integrates frugal and environmentally responsible strategies to create inclusive habitats for people. Renowned for his institutional designs, he has won several national and international competitions.
Designing across a range of scales, Kathpalia’s practice encompasses regional and city plans, institutional campuses, individual buildings and even furniture. His net zero approach to campus design integrates architecture, landscape, ecology, energy generation and management — both human and mechanical — while creating an equitable and inclusive social milieu, has set new benchmarks for sustainability and innovation.
Kathpalia serves as a trustee and is a former director of the Vastu Shilpa Foundation, a research based, non-profit charitable trust. The organization creates environmental and habitat designs for the poor, working extensively in informal settlements to create low-cost housing. He also runs the Foundation’s International Habitat Studio Program, which brings together students from across India and around the globe. He was recognized with the Prime Minister’s Award for innovative Urban Design for his pioneering advocacy and design work on the inner city of Hyderabad within the Charminar precinct.
Kathpalia earned his Bachelors Degree in Architecture from the Chandigarh College of Architecture and his Master of Architecture and Urban Design from Washington University. For the past more than 30 years, he has also taught as a university professor, lecturing extensively in India and abroad, and receiving several honors and awards. Most recently, he was conferred the 2019 Award for Distinction in Architecture by Washington University USA and has also been appointed as Honorary Professor at the Xia Jiaotong — Liverpool University, Suzhou, China and Chair Professor, Anant National University, Ahmedabad.
Elizabeth Timme
Co-founder and Director of Office of: Office
Elizabeth is co-founder of Office of Office, an urban planning, design and architectural practice based in Los Angeles. The studio believes that centering community knowledge and leadership is foundational to creating a just built-environment. Working on an approach to cross-sector collaboration and complex issues, connecting socio-spatial diagnosis, research, community engagement and capacity building to inform physical interventions and programs.
Elizabeth was named an Emerging Voice by the Architecture League, Women of the Year by Los Angeles Magazine, Curbed’s Young Gun of the Year, Next City Vanguard 2019 (recipient of the Vanguard Big Idea Challenge,) and Exhibit Columbus Washington Street Civic Leader. She is currently an adjunct teacher at Cal Poly Pomona and has taught at Woodbury and Harvard Universities.
When not on juries or teaching Elizabeth writes in journals and publications like Manifest Journal, Log 48, and Tablula Plena. Previously, Elizabeth co-founded and co-directed LA-Más, a community development non-profit, where she led numerous projects and initiatives. Elizabeth holds a master’s degree in architecture from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Southern California.
Yongzheng Li
Co-Founder of United Units Architects
Yongzheng Li is the Co-Founder of UUA (United Units Architects) and is responsible for the design creation and quality control of the office. He is interested in how cultural narratives are reflected in building design, and also deeply committed to innovation in building technology and details.
Yongzheng gained his Master’s Degree in Architecture from Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, with commendations for both design and thesis. He joined Foster and Partners in London upon graduating, and was involved in a range of international projects including the new Apple Park in California. Yongzheng is a chartered member of RIBA and a registered architect (ARB) in the UK.
In parallel to his professional practice, Yongzheng has been invited to teach at Tsinghua University, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, and he was also appointed a Placement Tutor at the University of Bath.
Louis R Pounders
Design Architect at ANF Architects
Louis R Pounders, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, received a BA from Rhodes College and the Master of Architecture degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He worked for I M Pei & Partners in New York before returning to Memphis. A member of the American Institute of Architects, Pounders was National Chair of the AIA Committee on Design, the only architect from Tennessee to hold this position.
He is a member of the AIA College of Fellows and serves on the National Board of Peer Reviewers for the GSA Design Excellence Program. He was recognized by AIA Tennessee with the William Strickland Lifetime Achievement Award and is also the recipient of the Francis Gassner Award, the highest honor presented by AIA Memphis.
Jaycee Chui
Founder and Design Director of More Design Office (MDO)
Jaycee Chui founded MDO in 2014. An ARB qualified Architect and interior designer, Jaycee has over 16 years of experience in London, Hong Kong and China. Her international background fused in Eastern and Western cultures, helps to develop the practice across China.
Her approach focuses on the emotional response to space and design and the beauty of everyday spaces. As a female designer, trained in the West and working in Asia, Jaycee represents a new generation of designer; unlimited, energetic, and a role model for the 21st Century designer/businesswoman.
To get your projects viewed by these and more than 250 other creative leaders on the A+Awards jury, enter your best projects before the Final Entry Deadline on January 27th, 2023:
Enter the 11th Annual A+Awards
