About

DIVERSITY IN ARCHITECTURE AWARD

STRUCTURE

JURY

202Ӡ + 2025

seƖects the 5 finaƖists: 01.202Ӡ & 01.2025

selects the winner: 03.2023 & 03.2025, Award Ceremony: 05.2023 & 05.2025

about the JURY

Nomination Experts

Experts from 6 Continents, list of nominees sent to jury: 12.2022 & 12.2024

about the NOMINATION EXPERTS

Board of Directors

Topics, Partners, Invitation of Boards, Strategy

about the BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Divia Team

Format & Theme, Exhibition & Publication

about the DIVIA TEAM

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

about the STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

COOPERATION PARTNERS

about the COOPERATION PARTNERS

Donors & Sponsors

about the DONORS

AMBASSADORS

about the AMBASSADORS
Scroll to Top

JURY

The distinguished jury, appointed for the award ceremonies of 2023 and 2025, comprises diverse and renowned personalities with expertise and prestige in the international architecture realm. Nominations are submitted by Nomination Experts to Diversity in Architecture e.V. (DIVIA), which then compiles a list of nominees and forwards it to the jury. From this list, the jury selects five finalists. DIVIA collaborates with Hatje Cantz Verlag to produce a publication and creates a global touring exhibition featuring the projects of all five finalists. During the final meeting, the jury determines the winner of the DIVIA Award, announced during the Award Ceremony in Berlin. Additionally, the finalists are honored at a reception in Venice during the opening days of the Architecture Biennale.

Itohan Osayimwese

is an architectural and urban historian, currently serving as Professor of History of Art and Architecture at Brown University. Her research delves into theories of modernity and postcoloniality, with a particular focus on German colonial architecture. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the prestigious 2020 Schelling Award for Architectural Theory.

Rahul Mehrotra

is a distinguished architect, urbanist, and educator. He is the Founding Principal of RMA Architects and divides his time between working in Mumbai and Boston. He teaches at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, where he serves as Professor of Urban Design and Planning, as well as the John T. Dunlop Professor in Housing and Urbanization.

Martha Thorne

is an accomplished architectural academic, curator, editor, and author. She currently serves as the Senior Advisor for the OBEL Award, sponsored by the Henrik F. Obel Foundation. Previously, she held prominent roles as the Executive Director of the Pritzker Architecture Prize and as the Dean of IE School of Architecture & Design in Madrid.

Odile Decq

is an architect, urban planner, and academic. She is the Founder and Director of Studio Odile Decq and the visionary behind the alternative architecture school Confluence Institute for Innovation and Creative Strategies in Architecture in Paris.

Sol Camacho

is an architect and urban designer who founded and directs RADDAR, an architecture firm based in São Paulo and Mexico City. Additionally, she serves as the Cultural Director of the Instituto Bardi/Casa de Vidro Institution, where she oversees the management of the Bardi archive and the cultural program at Casa de Vidro.

NOMINATION EXPERTS

Nomination experts, consisting of experts from all six continents, collectively nominate up to 30 practicing women architects recognized for their innovative design approaches in urban living spaces and impactful contributions to their societal contexts. The prize, exhibition, and publication initiated by DIVIA aim to promote and amplify the participation of these women architects in the global architectural landscape.

Maryam Pousti

Maryam Pousti is an Iranian designer based in Tehran & London. Trained as an architect (AA Dipl/RIBA II), her studio Pousti was established in 2013 with a focus on architecture, interiors, installations & product design. Its work has been exhibited in Milan, Paris, New York, Tehran, Bilbao, and Athens. Maryam Pousti will serve as nomination expert for the DIVIA Award 2025.

Francesca Perani

is an architect, instigator, and the founder of RebelArchitette, a no-profit cultural project promoting women’s work in architecture, the application of gendered language, and more equitable public panels. Rebelarchitette’s curatorial project was exhibited at LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA 2021 Italian Pavillion.

Werner Sobek

Founded his company Werner Sobek in 1992 and accompanies it as chairman of the supervisory board and as a creative mastermind. Its core areas of expertise are lightweight construction, high-rise construction, façade design, special constructions made from steel, glass, titanium, fabric and wood, as well as the design of sustainable buildings.

Kathrin Moore

founded her firm MooreUrban Design in 2000, which has been developing spatial strategies and master plans for areas and cities around the world. She has also been a member of the San Francisco Planning Commission since 2006 and is thus jointly responsible for the supervision and implementation of all planning projects in the city.

Martin Jasper

is an architect, engineer, and the founder of Jasper Architects, a distinguished architecture firm with offices in Berlin, Buenos Aires, and Asunción. He serves as the representative for the German Sustainable Building Council in Latin America.

Renato Turri & World Architects

is a Zurich-based CEO and Partner at World Architects, an esteemed online platform dedicated to showcasing and promoting architecture and architects from around the world. World Architects serves as a valuable resource for discovering innovative designs, exploring diverse architectural styles, and connecting with professionals in the field.

Julia Gamolina

is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the online platform Madame Architect. She also works as an Associate Principal at Ennead Architects and teaches a graduate-level Professional Practice seminar at Pratt Institute.

Julia Albani

is a Lisbon-based curator, critic, and communications strategist specializing in facilitating connections between individuals and institutions within architecture, urbanism, and design. Currently, she leads press and public relations efforts for the Canadian Centre for Architecture.

Elena Fabrizi

is an architect and designer from Florence, Italy. She serves as the Institutional Secretary and is co-curator at the creative collective RebelArchitette.

Rodney Eggleston

is the Founding Principal of March.Studio in Melbourne and the winner of the Australian Institute of Architects’ prestigious National Emerging Architect Prize.

Anne-Laure Cavigneaux

is a trained graphic designer based in Melbourne. She is the Founder and Creative Director at March.Studio.

Eduard Koegel

runs his own studio in Berlin, specializing in the development of architecture and urban planning in non-European countries. He is a regular lecturer at both the Berlin Institute of Technology and Bauhaus-University Weimar.

Brinda Somaya

is an architect and urban conservationist.She studied architecture in Mumbai and in Northampton, Massachusetts. She is Founding Principal of Somaya & Kalappa Consultants. In 2014, she was awarded the Indian Institute of Architects – Baburao Mhatre Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement. She is based in Mumbai.

Otobong Nkanga

is a Nigeria-born artist based in Antwerp whose work spans drawing, installation, sculpture, and performance, exploring the relationship between people and land. Her projects have been exhibited at prestigious venues such as Tate Modern in London, KW Institute for Contemporary Art in Berlin, and the Kunstmuseum Bregenz.

Mariam Kamara

is the Founding Principal of Mariam Issoufou Architects (formerly known as atelier masōmī) in Niamey, Niger. Her work prioritizes social impact, sustainability, and new typologies. She is also a founding member of the global collective of architects united4design

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors play a crucial role in providing leadership and strategic direction within our organization. They are responsible for ensuring that it stays aligned with its mission and objectives. Additionally, they oversee the overall governance and effectiveness of the board, ensuring that decisions are made in the best interest of DIVIA. This role requires strong leadership, communication skills, and a deep understanding of the organization’s goals and values.

Dr. Ursula Schwitalla, BDA ao

Director and Founder

is an art historian and consultant based in Tübingen, Germany. She holds positions as a lecturer at Humboldt University Berlin and the University of Tübingen, where she curates the lecture series “Architecture Today.” Additionally, she was the Editor of Women in Architecture, published in 2021 by Hatje Cantz Verlag.

Dr. Julia Roever, M.A.

Director

works as a freelance historian in Stuttgart, specializing in the history of medicine and the history of women. She previously worked as an attorney-at-law in Stuttgart and lived in California for over 20 years with her family, where she obtained a degree in history from Stanford University.

Christiane Stahnke

Director

is an industrial manager and architect. Since 2013, she has been running her own successful studio Proiectum Management & Planning GmbH, with offices in Hamburg and Munich. Prior to this, she worked for various major players, including Bothe Richter Teherani, HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung, and Allianz Immobilien GmbH.

DIVIA TEAM

Beschreibung

Vivian Schatz

Business Office

Vivian Schatz is DIVIA’s business office manager. She studied art history and history at the Universities of Tuebingen and Stuttgart. She is based in Stuttgart.

Paula Tornieporth

Graphic Design & Website

is DIVIA’s graphic designer based in Munich. Her areas of specialization encompass Digital Design, Art Direction, and Project Management. She studies Media Technology & Management at HMU of Applied Sciences in Munich.

Katerine Witte

Exhibitions

is DIVIA’s exhibition curator. She studied architecture and real estate management. She is based in Berlin.

Anja Menge

Exhibitions

is DIVIA’s exhibition curator. She studied architecture and real estate management. She is based in Berlin.

Veronika Lukashevich

Communications & Editing

is DIVIA’s editor. She studied international journalism at City, University of London and transcultural communication at University of Vienna. She is based in Berlin.

Harriet Harriss

is an award-winning educator, writer, and UK-qualified architect. She currently serves as a Professor in the MS Historic Preservation Program at Pratt Institute’s Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment in New York City. Previously, she held the position of Dean of the School of Architecture.

Nicola von Velsen

is an art historian educated in Bonn and London. She currently serves as the Managing Director at Hatje Cantz Publishing in Berlin.

Marc Kimmich, Co-Founder

is the Founder and Advisory Board Member at COPRO Group, with offices in Berlin and London. He has spearheaded sustainable architecture projects in Berlin and Stuttgart and actively promotes gender equity in architecture and planning.

Stella Lee

runs Stella Lee Projects, her own studio based in Berlin. Previously, she co-founded and served as Principal of Bureau V Architecture, an award-winning architecture and design practice located in New York City.

Itohan Osayimwese

is an architectural and urban historian, currently serving as Professor of History of Art and Architecture at Brown University. Her research delves into theories of modernity and postcoloniality, with a particular focus on German colonial architecture. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the prestigious 2020 Schelling Award for Architectural Theory.

Rahul Mehrotra

is a distinguished architect, urbanist, and educator. He is the Founding Principal of RMA Architects and divides his time between working in Mumbai and Boston. He teaches at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, where he serves as Professor of Urban Design and Planning, as well as the John T. Dunlop Professor in Housing and Urbanization.

Martha Thorne

is an accomplished architectural academic, curator, editor, and author. She currently serves as the Senior Advisor for the OBEL Award, sponsored by the Henrik F. Obel Foundation. Previously, she held prominent roles as the Executive Director of the Pritzker Architecture Prize and as the Dean of IE School of Architecture & Design in Madrid.

Odile Decq

is an architect, urban planner, and academic. She is the Founder and Director of Studio Odile Decq and the visionary behind the alternative architecture school Confluence Institute for Innovation and Creative Strategies in Architecture in Paris.

Sol Camacho

is an architect and urban designer who founded and directs RADDAR, an architecture firm based in São Paulo and Mexico City. Additionally, she serves as the Cultural Director of the Instituto Bardi/Casa de Vidro Institution, where she oversees the management of the Bardi archive and the cultural program at Casa de Vidro.

Itohan Osayimwese

is an architectural and urban historian, currently serving as Professor of History of Art and Architecture at Brown University. Her research delves into theories of modernity and postcoloniality, with a particular focus on German colonial architecture. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the prestigious 2020 Schelling Award for Architectural Theory.

Rahul Mehrotra

is a distinguished architect, urbanist, and educator. He is the Founding Principal of RMA Architects and divides his time between working in Mumbai and Boston. He teaches at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, where he serves as Professor of Urban Design and Planning, as well as the John T. Dunlop Professor in Housing and Urbanization.

Martha Thorne

is an accomplished architectural academic, curator, editor, and author. She currently serves as the Senior Advisor for the OBEL Award, sponsored by the Henrik F. Obel Foundation. Previously, she held prominent roles as the Executive Director of the Pritzker Architecture Prize and as the Dean of IE School of Architecture & Design in Madrid.

Odile Decq

is an architect, urban planner, and academic. She is the Founder and Director of Studio Odile Decq and the visionary behind the alternative architecture school Confluence Institute for Innovation and Creative Strategies in Architecture in Paris.

Sol Camacho

is an architect and urban designer who founded and directs RADDAR, an architecture firm based in São Paulo and Mexico City. Additionally, she serves as the Cultural Director of the Instituto Bardi/Casa de Vidro Institution, where she oversees the management of the Bardi archive and the cultural program at Casa de Vidro.

STRATEGIC PARTNER

supports Diversity in Architecture e.V. in its objectives and activities such as publications, traveling exhibitions, events, and gatherings.

RENATO TURRI & WORLD ARCHITECTS

is a Zurich-based CEO and Partner at World Architects, an esteemed online platform dedicated to showcasing and promoting architecture and architects from around the world. World Architects serves as a valuable resource for discovering innovative designs, exploring diverse architectural styles, and connecting with professionals in the field.

COOPERATION PARTNERS

BUND DEUTSCHER ARCHITEKTINNEN UND ARCHITEKTEN BDA, HATJE CANTZ, WIA BERLIN, ZHA LONDON, MADAME ARCHITECT, REBEL ARCHITETTE, AFI AFRICAN FUTURES INSTITUTE,   FONDAZIONE BERENGO,   IBA 2027, BERUEHRUNGSPUNKTE

DONORS & SPONSORS

AMBASSADORS

Our ambassadors are esteemed international supporters of Diversity in Architecture e.V. They passionately advocate for the principles and mission of our organization.

Kristin Feireiss

is the Co-Founder of the Aedes Architecture Forum in Berlin, recognized as the first private architecture gallery in Europe. In 2009, she co-founded the ANCB Aedes Metropolitan Laboratory, which was honored with the 2010 German Innovation Prize.

Angelika Fitz

is the first female Director of the Architekturzentrum Wien (Vienna Architecture Center). She is also actively involved in projects with international museums, ministries, and cultural institutes.

Dr. Dirk Boll

is a Professor at the Institute for Cultural Management and Media Management at the University of Music and Theater Hamburg. He is currently based in London, contributing to the field of cultural and media management.

Melodie Leung

is Associate Director at Zaha Hadid Architects in London and serves as the Architecture Editor at Large for Ala Champ Magazine.

Regine Leibinger

is the Co-Founder of Barkow Leibinger, a renowned architectural practice based in Berlin. She is also a member of the Architecture Section at the Academy of Arts in Berlin and serves as a lecturer at the Technical University in Berlin.

Annabelle Selldorf

is the Founding Principal of Selldorf Architects in New York City. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and was awarded the 2016 Medal of Honor by the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter.