The Architectural Review announces winners of the 2018 AR Emerging Architecture Awards

The Brazilian firm Carla Juaçaba Studio has been announced as the winner of Architectural Review's 2018 Emerging Architecture Award. Presenting a selection of projects at the World Architecture Festival, the judges praised the eponymous firm for the consistency and continuity in their work, their determination to achieve their vision, and working closely on site. Most notably, Juaçaba's chapel for the Pavilion of the Holy See at this year's Venice Biennale and her design for a single family home in Rio de Janeiro received high praises from the judges. 

Ronald Rietveld of RAAAF, who won the award back in 2013, commented that "there is thread through all her work: the integration of structure, simplicity and balance." Another jury member, Gurjit Singh Matharoo of Matharoo Associates, said the jury was "looking for architectural merit, and Carla stands out." 

"This is architecture for me: she is not trying to be anything else," he added.

Since 1999, the Architectural Review has been honoring young designers for their impact on the built environment with the Emerging Architecture Awards. For the past three years, the jury has received the applications at the World Architecture Festival, held this year in Amsterdam. Previous winners have included Shigeru Ban, Thomas Heatherwick, Jürgen Mayer H and Frida Escobedo.

In addition to the Emerging Architecture Award, the judges also selected two Highly Commended projects. Danish firm Johansen Skovsted Arkitekter was applauded for their sensitive approach to landscape and their thoughtful transformation of existing buildings used at the Tipperne nature reserve and the Skjern River pumping stations, both in Denmark. Japanese practice Yu Momoeda Architecture Office was also Highly Commended for their Four Funeral Houses and Sakura Passage ceremony hall. The judges praised Momoeda for the way he creates atmospheric spaces, observes the surroundings and translates this essence into his built work.

In celebration of the award's twentieth edition, the Architectural Review also introduced the Peter Davey Prize this year, which is awarded to the editors’ choice. Aulets Arquitectes from Mallorca, Spain took the prize, recognized by the AR editors' for their commitment to sustainability—both of the environment and the local heritage of Mallorca, using local materials, resources and technology.