The winners of the Dezeen Awards 2020 architecture categories were announced today in a special show hosted by poet and broadcaster LionHeart and including a special message from Norman Foster.

The 25-minute show revealed the winners of the 12 project categories before naming the winner of the best architecture project of the year.

The winners of the architecture studio of the year and the emerging architecture studio of the year awards were also named.

Today's show was the first of three programmes that will reveal all 45 Dezeen Awards 2020 winners. Tomorrow's show will name the interiors winners, and the design categories will be announced on Wednesday.

Dezeen Awards is an "extraordinary initiative" says Norman Foster

In a message specially recorded for today's show, Dezeen Awards judge Norman Foster praised both Dezeen and the awards programme, which he described as an "extraordinary initiative".

"Dezeen was founded 14 years ago and it’s become the most influential and popular online magazine on architecture and design with a global following," Foster said. "The awards programme is now in its third year and 2020 is a record year with more than 1,500 entries [for the architecture categories]."

"It showcases the very best in architecture, design and interiors," he added. "It’s been a great privilege and a pleasure to be part of the judging panel on this year’s entries. I’d like to congratulate everybody who’s competed, those who’ve won and the magazine for this extraordinary initiative."

Winners selected by master jury

This year's master jury included London-based Sally Mackareth, Mariam Kamara of Studio Masomi, Alexandra Hagen of White Arkitekter, Penda China's Sun Dayong and Issa Diabaté of Ivory Coast-based Koffi Diabate Architects.

Working remotely, the judges reviewed all shortlisted projects and chose the winners using Dezeen Awards' unique trio of judging criteria that call for entries that are beautiful, innovative and beneficial.

About LionHeart

LionHeart, the host of this year's Dezeen Awards 2020 Shows, is a poet, broadcaster and architecture enthusiast. A TEDx Speaker and BBC Radio London Presenter, his poetry explores connections between the built environment and wellbeing and he has acted as poet in residence at architecture firms including Grimshaw Architects and Squires & Partners. London-based LionHeart, whose real name is Rhael Cape, was a judge for the Dezeen Awards 2020 architecture categories.

About Dezeen Awards 2020

Dezeen Awards is our annual awards programme, now in its third year. It identifies the world's best architecture, interiors and design, as well as the studios and the individual architects and designers producing the most outstanding work.

Organised by Dezeen, the world's most popular and influential architecture and design website, Dezeen Awards is the benchmark for international design excellence and the ultimate accolade for architects and designers everywhere.

This year, more than 4,300 entries were received from over 85 countries across five continents.

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