Architizer is thrilled to announce that Steven Holl, one of the most celebrated architects of our time, has joined the jury for the 2025 Vision Awards. A visionary in every sense of the word, Holl’s inclusion brings unmatched insight into the power of architectural ideas, spatial imagination and visual storytelling.
Holl will review entries submitted in an expanded Vision Awards program, which invites architects, designers, photographers, videographers, rendering artists, model makers and students to enter their work for global recognition and publication in print. Get started on your entry today:
Over the course of five decades, Holl has established himself as a singular force in contemporary architecture, realizing projects across the globe that are as poetic as they are conceptually rigorous. His portfolio includes iconic works like the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki, the Linked Hybrid in Beijing, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City and The REACH expansion of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. — each one a manifestation of his deep commitment to architecture as a generator of experience and meaning.
More than just a designer, Holl is also a passionate advocate for architectural representation as tools for innovation and creative expression. His watercolor sketches — works of art in their own right — are not just artifacts of process but portals into the thinking behind his spatial compositions.
“I used to do pencil drawings. Those took eight hours,” reflects the architect. “Around 1979, I streamlined it to five-by-seven-inch watercolors. With the watercolor, in the quickest way, I can shape a volume, cast a shadow, indicate the direction of the sun in a very small format. And I can carry these things around because I am always traveling.”
It’s this ability to communicate architecture through image and intuition that aligns Holl perfectly with the ethos of the Vision Awards, Architizer’s annual celebration of conceptual architecture, images, films, drawings and models that define the visual culture of architecture.
Watercolor sketch for Meander Housing by Steven Holl Architects, Helsinki, Finland
As a juror, Holl will lend his expertise to evaluating entries across conceptual design, visualization and architectural representation, helping to spotlight those who are pushing their mediums — and the discipline — forward.
Holl’s presence on the jury is particularly significant for categories that celebrate the art of architectural representation, including the drawing categories — with accolades on offer for best sketch, hand drawing and computer-aided drawing — and physical model categories, including prizes for best conceptual model and presentation model. His own practice has long emphasized the importance of hand-drawn sketches and physical models in the design process, making him an ideal judge for submissions that explore the tactile and expressive qualities of these creative mediums.
Left: Conceptual model for Ex of In House by Steven Holl Architects, Rhinebeck, New York; right: Steven Holl inspects construction progress on the project © Steven Holl Architects. Learn more about this project here.
Joining Holl on the 2025 Vision Awards jury is a distinguished panel of professionals from various disciplines, including:
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Keely Colcleugh, Founder and CEO of Kilograph, known for her expertise in architectural visualization.
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Ema Peter, Principal & Owner of Ema Peter Photography, renowned for capturing the essence of architectural spaces.
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Marcelo Coehlo, Head of Design at Formlabs, bringing a perspective on digital fabrication and innovation.
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Carlotta Cominetti, Co-Founder of VirginLemon, with a focus on creative direction and storytelling in architecture.
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Arjun Desai and Katherine Chia, Founders of Desai Chia Architecture, recognized for their thoughtful and context-driven designs.
This multidisciplinary jury reflects the Vision Awards’ commitment to honoring a broad spectrum of architectural creativity and innovation. View the complete Vision Awards jury here.
As a tenured professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Holl has also played a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of architects, and will be looking forward to reviewing student entries for this year’s Vision Awards. His presence on the jury ensures that creative integrity, conceptual depth, and formal invention will be recognized and rewarded.
Enter the 2025 Vision Awards for the chance to have your work seen by Steven Holl and many more global design leaders. The Early Entry Deadline is May 9th, 2025, so be sure to submit your work before then to secure your place in the world’s leading celebration of architectural images and ideas:
Top image: Watercolor sketch for Ex of In House by Steven Holl Architects, Rhinebeck, New York
