Architects Sou Fujimoto, Li Hu and Huang Wenjing, designer Qiong Er Jiang and interior designers Steve Leung, Tao Liu and Chunyan Cai have been named the first judges for Dezeen Awards China 2024.

Dezeen Awards China 2024 launched earlier this month in partnership with Bentley. Enter before 16 July to save 20 per cent on entry fees. Click here to start your entry.

This regional edition of Dezeen Awards, now in its second year, aims to showcase the very best in architecture, interiors and design from studios based in China.

Read on for more about the first of the 15 industry professionals who will be judging the entries this year:

Hu and Wenjing are founding partners of Open Architecture, which won Dezeen Awards China 2023 architect of the year. They will both be joining the architecture panel this year.

Their Beijing-based studio has completed numerous civic, cultural and educational projects in China, including the rock-like Chapel of Sound, Sun Tower in Yantai and the concrete cultural centre Shanfeng Academy.

The duo also serve as Kenzo Tange design critics in architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design and visiting professors at Tsinghua University and China Central Academy of Fine Arts.

Japanese architect Fujimoto will join Li and Huang on the architecture panel for Dezeen Awards China 2024.

Fujimoto established his eponymous studio in 2000, with projects spanning a range of sectors including commercial, hotel and residential buildings. Construction recently began as part of his masterplan for Expo 2025 Osaka.

In 2021, Fujimoto was selected as the designer of the Co-Innovation University (Tentative) in Hida Takayama City. Recent projects include a circular holiday home with a meadow roof and a music centre in Hungary punctuated by trees.

Shanghai-based Liu and Cai are the co-founders of studio Atelier Tao+C. They will join the interiors panel for Dezeen Awards China 2024.

The cross-discipline studio works in architecture, interior, products and education, and does continuous research on the restoration of old buildings and the domestic landscape.

Atelier Tao+C’s recent works include a reading room for Whales Capital and Capsule hostel and bookstore, which won the Dezeen Awards 2020 interiors project of the year.

Hong Kong-based designer Leung will also join the interiors panel for Dezeen Awards China 2024.

Leung has over 40 years of experience in the industry and is the founder of Steve Leung Design Group, which incorporates Asian cultural and artistic elements throughout.

In 2022, he was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) by the Hong Kong government for his significant contributions to educating young architects and designers and fostering sustainable development in Hong Kong and mainland China.

Chinese designer Jiang will be joining the design panel for Dezeen Awards China 2024.

Jiang, who is the founder of lifestyle brand Shang Xia, aims to create works that are eclectic while being respectful to tradition, drawn from her experience and travels.

Her art and design works have been shown at international exhibitions and collected by national museums around the world. These include the Bamboo Mood collection and Jiang's installation the Guardians of Time.

Enter now!

Dezeen Awards China 2024 is open for entries. Find out about all of this year's categories and log in or create an account to start your entries. Enter before 16 July to benefit from our discounted early entry prices.

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Dezeen Awards China 2024 in partnership with Bentley

Dezeen Awards China is the first regional edition of Dezeen Awards which celebrates the best architecture, interiors and design in China. The annual awards programme is in partnership with Bentley as part of a wider collaboration to inspire, support and champion design excellence and showcase innovation that creates a better and more sustainable world. This ambition complements Bentley's architecture and design business initiatives, including the Bentley Home range of furnishings and real estate projects around the world.