2025 Edition

Emanuel Christ (*1970) studied architecture at ETH Zurich, EPF Lausanne and HdK Berlin. Together with Christoph Gantenbein, he founded Christ & Gantenbein in Basel in 1998. They continue to receive numerous awards worldwide. Their built work includes the renovation and expansion of the «Swiss National Museum» in Zurich as well as of the «Kunstmuseum Basel» (both 2016). Emanuel Christ taught at HGK Basel (2002–2003), ETH Studio Basel (2000–2005), Robert Gordon Univer- sity Aberdeen (2005), Oslo School of Architecture and Design (2008), Accademia di Architettura in Mendrisio (2006, 2009), ETH Zurich (2010–2015) as well as at Harvard GSD (since 2015). In 2018 Emanuel Christ was appointed Full Professor of Architec- ture and Design at ETH Zurich. In 2019, he had been head of the Institute for Design and Architecture IEA at ETH Zurich.

Marcio Kogan is the founding architect and mentor of the entire Studio MK27 team. Born in São Paulo’s vibrant chaos, he graduated from FAU-Mackenzie in 1976. He is a guest professor at the Politecnico di Milano and Escola da Cidade, where he earned a master’s degree in “Education, Society, and Culture.” Initially working as a film director, after completing his first feature film in 1988, he went bankrupt and had to “settle” for a career in architecture. Kogan is the author of all Studio MK27’s projects and an honorary member of the AIA, as well as a board member of MASP and MUBE. He is firmly convinced that a good cotoletta alla Milanese is more important than architecture.

Cosimo Scotucci is a Senior Project Leader at MVRDV, where he leads innovative design projects with a focus on sustainability and people-centric solutions. His work blends architecture, landscape, and research to reimagine public space and architecture fostering social impact through storytelling, experimentation, and a deep commitment to environmental responsibility.

Lorenzo Mattozzi (Venice, Italy) is an Associate Architect at MVRDV, where he plays a pivotal role in leading complex international projects with a focus on infrastructure, adaptive reuse, and the social dimensions of architecture. He holds a Master’s degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from Università Iuav di Venezia. Lorenzo has cultivated a multidisciplinary and international career across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, working with renowned offices such as Dissing+Weitling in Copenhagen and Zwarts & Jansma Architecten in Amsterdam. He also developed independent projects through his own practice and contributed to Expo 2015 in Milan, where he led the design and execution of a commercial pavilion from concept to completion. At MVRDV, Lorenzo was instrumental in shaping the Asia Studio from 2017 to 2021, managing and delivering key projects such as the award-winning Idea Factory in Nantou, the Women & Children Center in Shenzhen (2023), and the Irwell Hill Residences in Singapore (2024), which includes three of MVRDV’s first skyscrapers in Asia. His work in Asia also includes the Dawn Bridge in Zhujiajiao, an 80-metre wide vehicular and pedestrian crossing completed in 2021, where he successfully led a compact team under tight deadlines. Lorenzo has contributed significantly to competition-winning projects, including the Quartier am Hafenplatz Masterplan in Berlin, the Chao Phraya Bridge in Bangkok and the Nemunaičiai complex in Kaunas. His expertise in cross-cultural coordination, especially between MVRDV’s offices in Rotterdam and Berlin, ensures seamless communication between clients, consultants, and stakeholders. Over the past four years, he has worked closely with DAS Studio, helping extend MVRDV’s presence and methodology in the German market. Dedicated to education, Lorenzo has been a Studio Leader at the Venice Studio, the intensive design course organised by the University of Melbourne since 2020, where he introduces students to generative tools and experimental design methods. He has also lectured internationally, including at TU Delft, IUAV, and invited conferences, sharing insights into his work and MVRDV's design philosophy. Lorenzo’s approach is defined by rigorous experimentation, cross-cultural collaboration, and a passion for socially responsive and innovative design.

Paulo Jacobsen was born in 1954, in Rio de Janeiro. He studied photography in London, before graduating in Architecture and Urbanism. He started his professional life alongside Claudio Bernardes, designing high-end residences in the Costa da Esmeralda Islands, on the coast of Rio de Janeiro. Today, he shares the signature of his architectural designs with his son Bernardo Jacobsen. He was elected one of the 100 most important architects of the world by the magazine Architectural Digest (2001) and he was also appointed as one of the most influential designers of the world by Wallpaper Magazine (2011). Paulo Jacobsen was chosen the “Carioca of the Year” by Veja Magazine (2013).

Graduated in Business Administration from FGV, Lissa Carmona shifted careersin 1995 to join ETEL as a partner and curator. Driven by her interest in researching the history of Brazilian design,she was instrumental in establishing ETEL's pioneering role in preserving this history through itsrigorous reissue methodology. This approach has attracted renowned namessuch as Oscar Niemeyer, Jorge Zalszupin, Lina Bo Bardi, Joaquim Tenreiro, Zanine Caldas, among many others. The project is carried out in collaboration with copyright holders, including families, Institutes, and Foundations, while simultaneously investing in educational initiativessuch as book publications, lectures, collaborations, and exhibitionsto protect and promote this cultural heritage, alwaysremaining true to its original sources. Lissa was also the visionary behind Casa Zalszupin in São Paulo, managed by ETEL and Galeria Almeida & Dale, preserving the legacy of the late architect and designer by keeping the house alive with bimonthly exhibitions on architecture, design, and art. In addition to her work with ETEL, Lissa Carmona has been appointed asthe ambassador of the Bardi Institute/Casa de Vidro, a role that acknowledged hersignificant contributionsto promoting Brazilian design on the internationalstage. The Bardi Institute, headquartered in the Casa de Vidro, the first architectural work by Lina Bo Bardi, honors Lissa's decade-long support in advancing the institution's mission. Lina Bo Bardi, an iconic figure in Brazilian modernism, alongside her husband, P. M. Bardi, founded the São Paulo Museum of Art in 1947, establishing a new cultural and artistic paradigm in Brazil that continuesto influence architecture, design, art, and education. With a 27-year career in the field, Lissa isregarded asthe ambassador of Brazilian design worldwide, leading major lectures, curating significant exhibitions, and spearheading educational projects both in Brazil and internationally. To expand the company’s presence in the global market, Lissa took ETEL to the world stage, establishing representativesin over ten countries and opening galleriesin São Paulo, Milan, and Houston.

Diana Radomysler is a partner and director of the Interiors and Design department of Studio MK27. She has been a part of the team since 1994, working alongside Marcio Kogan to create stunning projects that seamlessly integrate indoor and outdoor spaces. Diana is passionate about the value of formal simplicity, which is reflected in her work at Studio MK27. She leads a team of skilled architects who approach each project like craftsmen, paying great attention to detail in order to create designs that are both beautiful and welcoming. In recognition of her work as the author of all of MK27's interiors projects, Diana has received numerous awards.

Chad Oppenheim founded Oppenheim Architecture in 1999 to design a new kind of sensory, site-specific architecture. Working across scale, typology, and geography, every Oppenheim project is a sensitive contextual response guided by the philosophy that design follows life and form follows feeling. A graduate of Cornell University and a Fellow of the AIA, Oppenheim has served as lead designer for countless place-making assignments around the world. Working closely with clients to realize and amplify their vision, he is backed by strong technical and project teams in Miami, Aspen, Basel, and Tirana, who execute large and complex projects on any continent. A traveler and cultural nomad from a young age, Oppenheim uncovers the power of a place to optimize how people live, play, or work in that particular environment. His monumental, timeless architecture enhances lives, realizes a site’s full potential, and protects and celebrates the natural environment. He shapes buildings and places to achieve the optimal balance between creativity and pragmatism, function and experience, construction and aesthetics. Oppenheim has lectured widely and taught at various architecture schools, including Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and, most recently, Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. He has published two books – Spirit of Place (2018), a monograph about the practice featuring seven award-winning projects, and Lair: Radical Homes and Hideouts of Movie Villains (2019), an academic investigation into the cultural associations of modernist design with villainy in cinema. Oppenheim’s international design practice has received over 125 industry awards, with more than 65 from the AIA, including the AIA’s highest distinction, the Silver Medal, as well as a National Design Award from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and the American Prize for Architecture from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.

Graduated in Architecture and Urbanism from FAU/USP in 2009, with a study period at the Politecnico di Milano, Rodrigo Ohtake has collaborated with architects Mario Biselli, Alvaro Puntoni, and French designer Patrick Jouin. From 2008 to 2017, he also worked alongside his father, Ruy Ohtake. Starting in 2005, he began developing his own projects and, in 2011, founded the firm Rodrigo Ohtake Arquitetura e Design. In addition to his office work, he participated as an assistant curator to André Corrêa do Lago at the Brazilian Pavilion during the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2014. Since his early projects, he has designed furniture pieces to complement his architectural work. In 2015, he began producing standalone furniture pieces—a field he has increasingly devoted himself to. His work has been exhibited at fairs such as MADE and SP-Arte in Brazil, as well as Design Miami and Design Miami/Basel. In 2021, he returned to lead the Ruy Ohtake Arquitetura e Urbanismo office, while continuing his own practice. In 2022, he founded OHTAKE, a firm born from the merger of Ruy Ohtake Arquitetura e Urbanismo and Rodrigo Ohtake Arquitetura e Design. The studio is multidisciplinary, focused on architecture, design, urbanism, and emerging construction and material technologies.

Worked for various architecture frms and agencies. Freelance projects such as Kunst am Bau façade design for the Buchlern sports centre in Zurich with Valentin Hauri, contribution to the ArchitekturSchweiz19 exhibition and joint competition entries in architecture with Sara Wiedenbeck. 2010-2012 Exhibition designer at gta exhibitions, ETH Zurich. 2017 Co-founder of Atelier Gut GmbH, a scenography design ofce. Since October 2018 Head of Pavillon Le Corbusier and curator of various exhibitions, on assignment by the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich at Zurich University of the Arts and partner at Atelier Gut GmbH.

Brazilian architect, designer, and urban planner, 53 years old, Douglas Tolaine is Chief Design Officer (CDO) and Design Director at Perkins&Will São Paulo, where he also leads the C.O.M. sector. Married and father of three daughters, he is passionate about nature and swimming in the sea. Born in Vila Madalena, a neighborhood that reflects the cultural and bohemian life of São Paulo, he embodies the body and soul of an architect. With over 29 years of experience in various sectors, Douglas balances a busy life as an architect and entrepreneur, aligned with his restless nature and deep interest in human relations. At Perkins&Will—one of the world’s largest architecture and design firms, with 32 studios across 4 continents and 2,700 architects—he leads the Brazilian design team of 100 associate architects. His passion, effort, and dedication have contributed to 38 international awards received by the studio in the last five years.

Mariana Simas graduated in Architecture from FAU-USP in 2006 and holds an MBA in Architectural Office Management from FGV. She won the Young Architects Award from the IAB and the Best of the Year Award from American Interior Design for her Casa Pier project. Since joining Studio MK27 in 2008, she has been responsible for strategic planning, new projects, legal affairs, finances, and communications.

Gustavo Penna is an architect and the founder of GPAA, with over 50 years of experience. His work stands out for its sensitivity, conceptual strength, and commitment to context. He has received awards such as the WAF, iF Design, and Prix Versailles, with projects exhibited at the Venice Biennale, Belgrade Triennale, and Casa da Arquitectura. He is the author of five books and serves on the boards of the Oscar Niemeyer Foundation and the Dom Cabral Foundation.

Rodrigo Vilas-Boas received his Master in Architecture from Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade Lusíada, Porto, in 2005, completing with an Academic Internship at Álvaro Leite Siza Vieira. Before founding OODA, Rodrigo worked as an architect at OMA / Rem Koolhaas office in Rotterdam and previously at MVentura & Associados Arquitectos, in Porto. Frequently invited to lecture in Portugal and abroad, in 2023 Rodrigo participated in the international ‘Symposium on Renewable Energies Sustainable Architecture’ that took place in Galiza, Spain.

Julião Pinto Leite received his Graduation in Architecture from Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade do Porto, in 2007, completing with an Academic Internship at Serôdio Furtado & Associados. Before joining OODA, Julião worked as an architect at Allies and Morrison in London, UK, and previously at José Carlos Cruz office where he collaborated as an Architect and Project Leader until 2018. In 2018, Julião was invited to be a Partner at OODA, where he has been developing several projects such as Hoso, in Porto; the Tower 15 & 1 in Leça da Palmeira; and Casa Oeiras. Frequently invited to participate in architecture conferences and lectures, Julião was a speaker at the Archi Summit 2022 which theme was ‘Scale and Impact’. More recently, he participated in the international ‘Symposium on Renewable Energies Sustainable Architecture’ that took place in Galiza, Spain. Julião was awarded the European 40 Under 40 Award 2022-2023, organized by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum in collaboration with the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies and is currently a jury member for the international competition for the urban expansion of the eastern part of Prague, in the Czech Republic.

An architect graduated from FAU-Mackenzie in 1997, Renata Furlanetto specialized in ‘Design in Time’ at UPC Barcelona. Her project From Local to Global won the Europandom Award, and her House in Araçoiaba received the Young Architects Award from IAB. Since joining Studio MK27 in 2001, she has led the Architecture Team, overseeing acclaimed projects such as Patina Maldives, the Brazil Pavilion at Expo Osaka, Ramp House, among many others.

Adam Kurdahl is founding partner in SPOL Architects. SPOL is an international architectural practice with offices in Oslo and Sao Paulo. Prior to founding SPOL, Adam Kurdahl was a Partner at Space Group Architects and the founder of Space Group Brasil. SPOL continues the activies of Space Group after the name change to SPOL. Adam Kurdahl, born in Copenhagen, studied Architecture and Urbanism at Delft University, the Netherlands and at Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark from where he received his degree. In 2000 Adam Kurdahl won the first prize in the in the “ArchiPrix International” for his thesis project for the master plan for Rotterdam Central Station. Kurdahl has won several prizes and awards with his architectural practice. In 2008 the first monograph on the work of Space Group was published by Damdi “DD- Untitled 2000-08” and in 2011 the office published the book “As Built – V-House”. Prior to the establishment of Space Group and SPOL, Kurdahl worked with OMA on several urban and large scale projects.

Designer Zanini de Zanine, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, brings a multidisciplinary approach and navigates across different project scales. His work in design and the visual arts is consistently grounded in direct research into Brazilian culture, raw materials, and both artisanal and industrial processes. Working in Brazil and abroad, Zanini collaborates with major Italian brands such as Cappellini, Slamp, and Tacchini, among others. He has been featured on the list of the top 100 design professionals in the world by the British magazine Wallpaper-UK, and has received numerous awards, including Designer of the Year for the Americas by Maison&Objet, the New Generation Award from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Good Design Award (USA), iF Design Award (Germany), A’ Design Award (Italy), was a finalist for the Compasso d’Oro (Italy), and has also received the Museu da Casa Brasileira Award, Casa Vogue Brasil Award, and GQ Brasil Magazine’s Man of the Year – Design, among other honors in the field. His work is part of permanent collections at institutions such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, MUDE – Museum of Design and Fashion in Lisbon, Thierry Barbier Muller Collection in Switzerland, the Museum of Modern Art of Rio de Janeiro (MAM), the National Historical Museum of Rio, and the Museu da Casa Brasileira in São Paulo, among others.

Winnie Bastian is a journalist and design curator based in São Paulo, Brazil. With 25 years of experience, she holds a degree in architecture but quickly established herself in design journalism, standing out for her critical perspective and deep knowledge of the field. She was editor-in-chief of Arc Design, editor of L+D, and design editor of Casa Vogue. Winnie creates content for Design do Bom, her website (www.designdobom.com.br) and social media (@designdobom), sharing insights on inspiring and innovative design. She also provides consulting, lectures, serves as a juror in design competitions, and develops curatorial projects. In 2024, she was a guest curator for DW! São Paulo Design Week, overseeing the exhibition “From the Object to the City: Design in Everything.” Alongside her journalism career, she pursued academic research, earning a master’s degree focused on the influence of fashion on furniture and home object design. Highly respected in Brazil, she is recognized for her expertise and contributions to design appreciation.

Born in São Paulo, Amanda Ferber graduated from the school of Architecture and Urbanism of Mackenzie Presbyterian University in 2018. Realizing that she had an extensive collection of architectural reference work on her phone (that was created as a means to study for college) she decided, unpretentiously, to open an Instagram page to share its curation in the year of 2013, named Architecture Hunter. During her academic life, Amanda interned at studioMK27, led by renowned Brazilian architect, Marcio Kogan. Halfway through college, she realized that her passion leant towards architectural communication, and not necessarily to actually design. Thus, she started an internship at ArchDaily, where she worked for two years in total. In 2018, the Architecture Hunter page already established itself as the largest independent architecture profile in the world with millions of followers. After finishing her academic studies, Amanda began to focus on turning the brand into a business. Thus, she also began to attract the attention of some international mediums, and at the age of 23, she appeared on the cover of the Italian magazine Beesness. In this edition, she had her story told with other young women in the business world. In the same year, Amanda was invited to speak at the “Viral Voices” panel for the American Institute of Architecture in New York. Through a studioMK27 nomination, Amanda entered the prestigious Forbes Under 30 list at the age of 24. In 2020, she was reckoned number 1 among the 125 biggest architecture influencers from around the world by Feedspot. The following year, Architizer included her in the list of “100 Women to Watch in Architecture”. And in 2022, she got to be on the cover of the Brazilian magazine about business and entrepreneurship, The President. Currently, in addition to being an ambassador for the North American application network Morpholio, Arkos Brazil and LG Magenta. Amanda also takes part as a jury member for renowned international Architecture and Design Awards, such as Architizer’s A+Awards, Architizer’s One Drawing Challenge, Loop Design Awards and Re-Thinking the Future. Besides being CEO and editor-in-chief for Architecture Hunter, Amanda also travels around the world, giving lectures to architecture and design professionals. The themes permeate strategies on how to use social networks as a positioning tool in the market, and on the power of architecture as entertainment.

Carol Martins is the president of Associação Aproxima and co-creator of the Aproxima Program, an initiative that promotes ethnic-racial diversity and inclusion in architecture. She holds a postgraduate degree in Strategic People Management from Mackenzie University, a degree in Executive Secretariat from Universidade Nove de Julho, and has over ten years of experience in Human Resources and Administration within the field of Architecture.

Bruno Bordon, 32, is an architect, social entrepreneur, and digital influencer. He currently serves as CEO of Construide, a non-governmental organization that transforms lives through the construction of dignified housing. Bruno also leads his namesake architecture firm, where Brazilian identity is the driving force behind projects that blend aesthetics, function, and authenticity. He gained recognition in the third sector by being featured on the Forbes Under 30 list in 2021 for the social impact of Construide and was named Social Architect of the Year by Portobello in 2023.

One of the founding partners of FGMF, he holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from FAU-USP, where he also pursued doctoral studies. He is a postgraduate professor at Mackenzie University and, since 2024, a guest lecturer at the Università degli Studi – Roma Tre (UniRoma3). He has also taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses at FAAP, Unip, Istituto Europeo di Design (IED), Atitus, and FAU-USP (PAE), in addition to contributing as a guest in workshops organized by the International Honors Program (IHP), Columbia University, and MIT. At FGMF, he is involved in the creation of all projects, and also oversees the urbanism team and FGMF LAB. He is the founder and board member of the NGO Aproxima, which is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in the architecture industry.

The São Paulo–based journalist Ana Paula de Assis is an active — and beloved — presence in the design, art, and architecture circuit. She has worked in the editorial teams of Casa Vogue, KAZA, and GIZ, mapped the 100 most prominent Black architects in Brazil, and contributed to outlets such as Decornautas, POP-SE, Glamour, Forbes, and Bazaar. She is currently the editor of the Alice Ferraz column at Estadão newspaper.