The BLT Built Design Awards, which celebrate exceptional contributions in architecture, interior design, construction products, and landscape architecture, have announced a remarkable panel of new jury members for its 2025 edition. These distinguished professionals join a stellar international jury to honour the vision, creativity, and passion driving the built environment forward.
This year, the BLT Awards welcome Tran Ngoc Danh, Vice President of VDAS Vietnam Design Association and Founder & CEO of the VMARK Vietnam Design Award. With over three decades of experience, Ms. Tran has been a transformative force in Vietnam’s design community. From the United States, Cas Esbach, founder of KANS and professor at SCAD, brings his expertise at the intersection of practice and pedagogy. His work explores the role of AI in architectural authorship, combining bold experimentation with global narratives that challenge and enrich our understanding of design today. Muhammad Habsah, Design Director at U+A (part of the 10N Collective), is a driving advocate for socially conscious and culturally resonant design. His award-winning work across the GCC and Africa reflects a deep respect for heritage, sustainability, and inclusivity.
Joining from Perkins&Will in Boston, Associate Urban Designer Mona Vijaykumar is known for her award-winning projects across the United States, India, and the Middle East. Christian Brendelberger, Head of Cost Planning and Executive Board Member at Dietziker Partner Baumanagement AG in Switzerland, brings decades of experience in steering large-scale projects with economic precision and creative support for design architects. From ETH Zurich, Andreas Rupf, Head of ETH RAUM and Founder of SPEKTRUM GmbH, has dedicated his career to sustainable spatial development and participatory urban planning. International urban planner and designer Anastasia Ignatova joins the jury with a wealth of experience from her humanitarian and development work across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Amir Idiatulin, Founder and CEO of IND, leads one of Russia’s most acclaimed architectural firms with over 150 realized projects worldwide. From the National University of Singapore, Rudi Stouffs, Dean’s Chair Associate Professor and Assistant Dean (Research), brings expertise in digital resilience, sustainable urbanism, and computational design. His research and leadership at the interface of technology and architecture shape future-ready cities and resilient communities. Nigerian interior designer Osaru Alile, Principal Partner at CC Interiors Studio, infuses creativity and African storytelling into harmonious, functional spaces.
These acclaimed professionals join an already distinguished jury composed of some of the most respected names in the global design and architecture community. Returning jurors include Sandra Baggerman of Trahan Architects (USA), a renowned architect and tutor celebrated for her thoughtful approach to contemporary practice; Serhii Makhno, founder and owner of MAKHNO Studio (Ukraine), acclaimed for his distinctive fusion of Ukrainian traditions and modern aesthetics; and Hannah Churchill, founder and design director of hcreates interior design (China), known for her innovative and award-winning hospitality and commercial spaces across Asia.
The panel also includes Stanislas Helou, founder of Thinking Luxury (Andorra), whose expertise bridges luxury, strategy, and cultural insight, and Sonsoles Vela Navarro, founding partner of studioVRA and associate director of architecture at Tulane University (USA). Other esteemed members contributing their unique expertise are Eason Zhu of Fununit Design (China), Ruben Garcia Rubio of studioVRA and Tulane University (USA), Colleen Cocotos of Cape Peninsula University of Technology (South Africa), Steffen Lehmann of si_architecture + urban design and University of Nevada (USA), Dave Pigram of supermanoeuvre (Australia), Valeria Senkina of Dseesion Interiors (Russia), Dan Grimshaw of BEAM Development (UK), Kourosh Salehi of LWK + PARTNERS (UAE), and Lichen Ding of DLCA Architects (China).
Astrid Hébert, Program Director of the BLT Built Design Awards, shared:
“It is a pleasure to welcome such a talented and inspiring group of professionals to the BLT jury this year. Their diverse perspectives and dedication to meaningful design perfectly reflect the values of our awards. I’m very much looking forward to meeting everyone in person at our ceremony in Basel, where we will celebrate the creativity and passion driving the future of the built environment.”
This extraordinary and diverse group brings unmatched expertise, cultural richness, and creative vision to evaluate this year’s submissions with rigor, insight, and fairness.
With such an accomplished jury ready to honour the very best in design and the built environment, the BLT Built Design Awards invite you to submit your project before the final deadline of August 26th. Take this opportunity to have your work reviewed by world-class experts and celebrated on a global stage. Submit today and let your vision shine. Discover the complete jury lineup and find out how to submit your project by visiting the website: bltawards.com.
