Two Mexican architects have won the biggest accolades at this year’s Women in Architecture awards by the Architectural Review and The Architects’ Journal. This year's award went to Gabriela Carrillo, co-founder of TALLER Mauricio Rocha + Gabriela Carrillo, was named Woman Architect of the Year 2017, sawing off a shortlist that included Julia Barfield of Marks Barfield.

Rozana Montiel, a Mexican architect and head of Rozana Montiel Estudio de Arquitectura, was announced as the winner of the Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture.

The judges praised both architects for having ''demonstrated excellence in design and a commitment to working both sustainably and democratically with local communities.''

Gabriela Carrillo, Taller de Arquitectura Mauricio Rocha + Gabriela Carrillo, Juzgados en Pátzcuaro, México. Image © Onnis Luque

The jury was particularly impressed with Carrillo’s Criminal Courts for Oral trials in Pátzcuaro, Mexico, which they stated ''skilfully answered a brief to design flexible spaces, complied with strict security rules and improved transparency in the judicial process.''

Gabriela Carrillo, Taller de Arquitectura Mauricio Rocha + Gabriela Carrillo, Juzgados en Pátzcuaro, México. Image © Onnis Luque

The stone oval building of the criminal courts surrounds an arrangement of rectangular brick constructions with sloped tiled roofs to handle the western region’s rainy season.

The judging panel was also impressed by the work of the 44-year-old Mexican architect Rozana Montiel, in particular her ''sensitive engagements with communities that activate simple architectural forms.'' 

Rozana Montiel Estudio de Arquitectura, Veracruz Cancha, San Pablo Xalpa Unidad Habitacional y Casa Tepoztlan, México. Image Courtesy of Rozana Montiel

Montiel's sensitive projects such as Veracruz Cancha – a sports court built as part of a major overhaul of a public housing scheme – and her San Pablo Xalpa Unidad Habitacional housing impressed the international panel to recognise to the AR's prestigious award.

Montiel will receive a £10,000 prize fund created in memory of the late Moira Gemmill, director of design at the V&A and latterly director of capital programmes at the Royal Collection Trust. The prize fund will support Montiel in her continuing professional development.

Rozana Montiel Estudio de Arquitectura, Veracruz Cancha, San Pablo Xalpa Unidad Habitacional y Casa Tepoztlan, México. Image Courtesy of Rozana Montiel

''All architecture is political. We can read in daily spaces the political priorities of our society. Architecture has the power to shape civic behaviour because, more than laying bricks, it lays the founding principles of public and social exchanges,'' said Rozana Montiel.

''The judges were impressed with Gabriela Carrillo’s ability to design flexible spaces, and work with light and shadow to such compelling effect. And they were inspired by Rozana Montiel’s sensitive and perceptive approach to community buildings,'' said AJ editor Christine Murray, founder of Women in Architecture programme.

The AR also celebrated at the ceremony Denise Scott Brown, who has won the Jane Drew Prize, and artist Rachel Whiteread – who has been awarded the Ada Louise Huxtable Prize.

''Scott Brown’s wonderful architectural writing and thinking, her work and her wit have been an inspiring force for change. This honour squares the circle. Whiteread is an important influence and inspiration to the profession and richly deserving of the Ada Louise Huxtable Prize,'' Murray added.

Last year, Studio Gang founder Jeanne Gang won Woman Architect of the Year and Gabriela Etchegaray won the Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture.

Top image: Left; Gabriela Carrillo, courtesy of TALLER Mauricio Rocha + Gabriela Carrillo. Right; Rozana Montiel, courtesy of Rozana Montiel Estudio de Arquitectura.

> via The Architectural Review