Vietnamese architecture firm ARB Architects founder Nguyễn Hà has been awarded the Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture at the 2024 W Awards, formerly known as the Women in Architecture Awards.

Noelia Monteiro, co-founder of Estúdio Flume, has been highly commended at the 2024 W Awards. 

Jennifer Frewen of Takero Shimazaki Architects has won the MJ Long Prize for Excellence in Practice.

Presented in partnership with both The Architectural Review and The Architects’ Journal, the W Awards are presented annually as a celebration of talent and ambition, of leadership and outstanding architecture.

Đạo Mẫu Museum and Temple by ARB Architects. Image © Triệu Chiến 

The Đạo Mẫu Museum and Temple, dedicated to the folk religion of Đạo Mẫu, includes brick towers built along a brick wall in a lychee orchard, as well as the conversion of a former weekend home into a temple.

The Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture recognises a bright future for designers under the age of 45 who are leading their own practices.

"Nguyễn Hà sees what isn’t visible and finds a project that isn’t a project. The architecture preserves important practices of craftsmanship, achieved through resilience and persistence; you can feel the hours of work. It is work for that specific place," said the judges.

Babussu nut facility by Estúdio Flume. Image © Maíra Acayaba

Noelia Monteiro, co-founder of Estúdio Flume has been highly commended for the Moira Gemmill Prize 2024.

Monteiro founded Estúdio Flume with Christian Teshirogi in São Paulo in 2015. 

The practice’s work can be found in remote villages around Brazil, such as the babassu nut facility in Sumaúma in the state of Maranhão and a boathouse on the island of Jaguanum, located off the coast near Rio de Janeiro.

"Noelia Monteiro has a personal commitment to architecture that is very tangible. The buildings work holistically and at different scales; they enable the community to build itself," said the judges.

The Moira Gemmill Prize shortlist 2024 comprised: Kim Courrèges, partner of Plan Común, based in Paris, France, Joana Dabaj, co-founder of Catalytic Action, based in Beirut, Lebanon, Nguyễn Hà, founder of ARB Architects, based in Hanoi, Vietnam, Noelia Monteiro, co-founder of Estúdio Flume, based in São Paulo, Brazil.

Royal Academy of Dance by Takero Shimazaki Architects. Image © David Grandorge

Jennifer Frewen of Takero Shimazaki Architects has won the MJ Long Prize for Excellence in Practice for her work leading the project for the new global headquarters of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in London from concept to completion. 

Working within an existing envelope, Frewen and her team reimagined the building’s footprint as a continuation of the surrounding city, with studios and learning spaces connected by a network of indoor ‘streets’ and ‘urban plazas’, and large internal windows providing views into studios ensuring that dance animates the whole building.

"What was notable was how rounded and impressive Frewen’s practice was. You really felt inside each project when she spoke about them: she was clearly in total control, with a deep understanding of everything she touched. Frewen is one of those insightful, sensitive leaders who are so good at listening and communicating they almost do it by stealth – an individual so busy doing their job, they don’t get a chance to step back and see what they have achieved," said the judges.

The MJ Long Prize shortlist 2024 comprised: Jennifer Frewen of Takero Shimazaki Architects, for the Royal Academy of Dance in London, United Kingdom, Laura O’Brien of James Gorst Architects, for Castle Community Rooms in Framlingham, United Kingdom, , Sela-Jaymes Taylor of Gort Scott, for Three Mills Studios in London, United Kingdom, Michelle Wong of vPPR Architects, for White House School in London, United Kingdom. 

The jury for the Moira Gemmill and MJ Long Prizes included; Stephen Bates, co‑founder of Sergison Bates, Giovanna Borasi, director of the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA), Shumi Bose, educator and editor of KoozArch, Gloria Cabral, architect and previous Moira Gemmill Prize winner, Eva  Jiřičná, architect, Karen Livingstone, Deputy Director for Masterplan, Exhibitions and Major Display Projects at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Tracy Meller, senior partner at RSHP and previous MJ Long Prize winner, Manijeh Verghese, Head of Public Engagement at the Architectural Association, Sal Wilson, sustainability consultant and educator.

Architect Iwona Buczkowska was awarded the Jane Drew Prize for Architecture 2024, while political activist, philosopher and writer Angela Davis was named as the winner of the Ada Louise Huxtable Prize for Contribution to Architecture 2024.

Top image in the article: Đạo Mẫu Museum and Temple by ARB Architects. Image © Triệu Chiến.

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ARB Architects Prize W Awards winner