Architects Hot List
Architects Hot List
The late, great Zaha Hadid heads our Architects Hot List
There were two huge stories in architecture this year: the death of Zaha Hadid (number one) and the rise of Bjarke Ingels (number two). The untimely passing of Hadid dominated architectural discourse but Ingels, who has only just turned 42, looks set to inherit her mantle as most talked-about architect on earth.
Other notable highlights include the strong showing of cult figures Peter Zumthor (number five) and Alejandro Aravena (number 11). The former's enduring popularity belies his low profile and modest output, while the latter's emergence as a key player is down to his double whammy of winning the Pritzker Prize and curating the Venice Architecture Biennale.
Japan emerges as the strongest country for architecture with five exponents in the top 20, while Vo Trong Nghia (number 15) cements his place as the first Vietnamese architect of genuine world stature.
Architecture itself is a winner, with architects taking up 14 of the top 20 spots in our overall Dezeen Hot List.
However gender balance is not a winner. Zaha Hadid is the only woman in the top 20 in her own right, although both SANAA (number six) and MVRDV (number seven) have female co-founders.