Kengo Kuma is one of the most prominent Japanese architects. He was born in 1954 in Yokohama, Japan. After going to Eiko Gakuen junior and senior high schools he joined University of Tokyo and graduated in 1979. In 1987 Kuma commenced the “Spatial Design Studio” and soon launched his own office in 1990 with the name “Kengo Kuma & Associates“. He is regarded as one of the most popular contemporary architects of Japan concerned with reviving and revitalizing the traditional Japanese values and customs by blending them well with modernistic approach of current time. Kuma promotes the idea of drawing inspiration from surroundings and context of the project to eliminate the chances of alienation of building on its site. Kuma’s firm Kengo Kuma and Associates has its offices in Tokyo, Paris and Bejing with a staff of 220. Currently Kuma is teaching at the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Tokyo and also carrying out various research projects in his personal laboratory, Kuma Lab. Major topics related to his researches are architecture, urbanism and design. Kengo Kuma won 2016’s “Global Award for Sustainable Architecture”.
Agostino Ghirardelli worked in New York and Paris and oversaw several construction sites around the world. He manages complex urban planning and urban regeneration projects. As one of the founding partners of SBGA | Blengini Ghirardelli is often invited as a lecturer to national and international conferences and workshops to talk about Architecture.
Ligia Nunes is graduated in Architecture by FAUTL - Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa, Portugal and a PhD in Heritage and Architectural Rehabilitation by the Construction Department of ETSA - Escuela Tecnica Superior de Arquitectura, Coruña, España. Architecture teacher since 1997 in the areas of Project, Theory, History of Architecture and Cooperation for Development in Architecture is an assistant professor at ULP - Universidade Lusófona do Porto. Cooperates with ISCTE – IUL - Instituto Universitario de Lisboa in post-graduated courses in the field of cooperation. Its a member of CEAU - FAUP - Centro de Estudos em Arquitectura e Urbanismo da Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade do Porto, in the PACT group - Patrimonio Arquitectura Cidade e Territorio in the field of Architecture, city and territory heritage. Founded ASF_Portugal - Arquitectos Sem Fronteiras Portugal that were funding members of “Architecture Sans Frontières International" and is president of ASF – International.
Mphethi Morojele is owner and founder of the MMA Design Studio, an award-winning architecture and design studio based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The practice has collaborated to produce some of the most iconic and culturally important projects in South Africa and continues to expand its portfolio on the continent with projects in Ethiopia, Uganda, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho and Burundi.
He has emerged as one of the most important voices in architecture in Africa celebrated by Archdaily as one of the “seven architects designing a diverse future in Africa.”
He has been a design lecturer at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and critic at most of South Africa’s schools of Architecture.
He has curated many exhibitions on African architecture including for the South African National pavilion at the Venice Biennale in Italy and at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London.
He continues to serve on many international architecture juries including for the Union of International Architects (UIA), the European Union, the Holcim International foundation, The African Architecture Awards, and the Architecture Masterprize to name a few.
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1953, graduated from the University of Florence in 1978. Self-employed, has oriented its work as a designer and researcher in the field of restoration and enhancement of Cultural Heritage and Landscape. Combines his professional activity with that institution. Member of the Order of Architects of Reggio Emilia since 1980, the Secretary of the Order from 1984 to 1996, and Chairman since 2005. Coordinator of the Federation of Associations of Architects of Reggio Emilia for the biennium 2010-2011, the Bureau Member the CNAPPC for the 2013-2014 biennium. Active in social voluntary and qualified in the seismic emergency management coordinator of the garrisons of volunteer architects for the Emilia-Romagna Civil Protection.
Awarded her PhD at the School of Higher Education Studies, University of the Free State, is a co-founder and director of IZUBA INafrica Architects and Head of School at Architecture Planning & Geomatics, University of Cape Town. After completing her M.Arch. Prof degree in 2006 with a notable distinction in Construction, Tumubweinee was introduced to academia at the dept. of Architecture, University of Pretoria as an assistant Studio Master in the First Year Studio. In 2007 she joined the dept. of Architecture, University of Johannesburg (UJ) South Africa as the First-Year coordinator and Design Studio Master. Noteworthy in collaboration with the FIRST YEAR STUDENTS from 2007 to 2012 she held several public exhibitions centered around the documentation of the city of Johannesburg. From 2009 to 2012 she served on the board for the Gauteng Institute for Architects (GIfA) where she contributed to the re-branding and rejuvenation of GifA as an active vehicle through which the significance of architects and architecture is made visible in the broader society. As a member of this Board, philippa was privileged to be part of the project team that brought that first international architectural festival AZA 2010 to the shores of South Africa. In March 2012 till March 2017 she joined the dept. of Architecture, University of the Free State whilst working on her doctoral degree. In 2012 she served on the National Judging Panel for the SAIA Awards of Merit and Excellence and presented a paper on one of her projects the Esquared House at the ARCH THEO’12 conference in Istanbul. She was also the co-Master of Programme and Ceremonies at the second AZA 2012 Architectural Conference in Cape Town and gave the keynote at the NEXUS Architectural Students Conference, Australia. In 2013 she served on the National Judging Panel for the prestigious AfriSAM Sustainability Awards. Tumubweinee’s commitment to architectural education has developed through her involvement as an external examiner for MProf and BHons students in Architecture at, the University of Pretoria and Namibia University of Science and Technology.
Dr. Mantey Jectey-Nyarko is currently a lecturer at the Department of Painting and sculpture, Faculty of Art, in the College of Art and Built Environment, KNUST-Kumasi. He is also the CEO of the Ancestralgift Foundation, an African Heritage and Renewal Centre. Dr. Jectey-Nyarko is also the Director in charge of the conservation of Cultural Heritage as well Assessment of Project Designs for the Rural African Development Foundation (RADeF), a non-profit organisation based in Ghana. He holds a BA (Hons) in Art, MFA in sculpture and a Ph.D in Art Education all from KNUST kumasi. His areas of specialisations are studio Art (Painting and sculpture) and Art Education.
Dr. Mantey is the immediate past National president of the Ghana Art Teachers Association. He is also the chief Adjudicator for Visual Art on the National festivals of Art in Ghana at the pre-tertiary level. He served as the International Coordinator for the Annual Nka Foundation Artist Residency/Workshop, a forum where critical connections are drawn within the Arts, Architecture and cultural believes and practices. Aside the mainstream lecturing and activities in human development, Dr. Jectey-Nyarko has a strong desire in the promotion of the African Cultural Identity. He is of the view that knowing who you are is the basic ingredient for holistic socio-cultural development.
