Dezeen Awards 2021 judge Virginia San Fratello

"I will be looking for projects that fly in the face of norms" says Dezeen Awards judge Virginia San Fratello

There are less than 30 days left to enter Dezeen Awards 2021. To help you with your entry, we've asked some of our judges what they'll be looking for in this year's submissions.

"I'm really interested in understanding and learning more about how architects have been designing at the front lines this year," said educator, designer and creative technologist Virginia San Fratello.

"In what ways has architecture responded to the pandemic, to climate change and the wide array of natural disasters we have been experiencing and also to issues around social equity," she added.

San Fratello has agreed to judge this year's architecture project categories alongside Rafael Viñoly, Chitra Vishwanath, Cecil Balmond and Juliane Wolf.

"I'm going to be looking for radical projects, projects that defy conventions and fly in the face of norms," said San Fratello.

"Projects that step outside boundaries, rethink materials and tools, and projects that have beautiful solutions to pressing problems."

San Fratello is the founding partner of Oakland-based studio Emerging Objects. She draws, builds, 3D prints, teaches and writes about architecture and interior design.

San Fratello's other studio, Rael San Fratello, speculates about the social agency of design, particularly along the borderlands between the USA and Mexico.

The studio's pink seesaws that straddled the US-Mexico border were named Design of the Year 2020.

"I think architects and designers have been working to redefine how we use both public and private space," said San Fratello.

"I hope to see optimism and joy, maybe through the use of color," said the Dezeen Awards 2021 judge.

"I would love to see how designers and fabricators are using new technologies such as 3D printing and robotics not only for prototyping, but for actual building construction."

Complete your entry today

Entries for Dezeen Awards 2021 close at midnight BST on 2 June.

With little time left, start your entry today so you don't miss out!

If you have any questions, please contact our awards team at [email protected].

Main image courtesy of Virginia San Fratello.