DIVIA Award 2025 Finalists Announced
The finalists in the second DIVIA Award—the biennial award promoting diversity in architecture—have been announced: seven women architects in more than six countries on four continents.
The recent announcement follows the nomination of 25 women architects in December by the advisory board of Diversity in Architecture (DIVIA). The Berlin-based organization broadly promotes diversity in architecture, though so far the DIVIA Award has focused on recognizing women in the field, with Marta Maccaglia winning the inaugural DIVIA Award in 2023. The board was asked to name “women architects recognized for their innovative design approaches in urban living spaces and impactful contributions to their societal contexts.” From the 25 nominees, the five finalists were determined by a jury made up of Itohan Osayimwese, Rahul Mehrotra, Martha Thorne, Odile Decq, and Sol Camacho. Per DIVIA's announcement, “These outstanding women architects have demonstrated excellence, innovation, and impact in their fields.”
The finalists (alphabetical by continent):
ASIA:
- Patcharada Inplang is the co-founder of SHER MAKER and leads a team of architects in Northern Thailand focused on indigenous architecture and vernacular ecological knowledge.
- Trần Thị Ngụ Ngôn, co-founder of Tropical Space in Vietnam, focuses on harmonizing buildings with nature within Southeast Asia’s tropical climate.
EUROPE:
- Izaskun Chinchilla Moreno, founder of Izaskun Chinchilla Architects in Madrid, pioneers sustainable architecture through circular economy principles.
Bottom row: Surella Segú, Mexico; Carolina Rodas and Carla Chávez, Ecuador; Cazú Zegers, Chile (Image courtesy of DIVIA)
NORTH AMERICA:
- Surella Segú is the co-founder of el cielo mx, an architectural practice addressing urban challenges in Mexico through collaboration and design.
SOUTH AMERICA:
- Carolina Rodas and Carla Chávez, co-founders of RAMA estudio in Ecuador, prioritize sustainable design and the preservation of local traditions.
- Cazu Zegers, a pioneer of ethnoarchitecture, is the founder of Cazu Zegers Arquitectura in Chile, where she blends indigenous knowledge with sustainable design.
The winner will be announced at an award ceremony on the afternoon of May 10 at ECC's Palazzo Mora in Venice, coinciding with the opening of the the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. The ceremony also coincides with the opening of the DIVIA exhibition, which will be on display at Palazzo Mora until the conclusion of the Biennale in November. All of the finalists will be featured in an accompanying catalogue published by Hatje Cantz, which will also be presented in Venice.