ARCHITECTS / D

Justus Dahinden was a Swiss architect and professor recognized for his innovative contributions to post-war architecture. He studied at ETH Zurich, where he later earned his doctorate, and in 1955, he established his own architectural practice in Zurich. His designs, such as the Zelthaus on the Rigi (1955), the Pyramide am See in Zurich (1965–1970), and the Schwabylon leisure center in Munich (1970–1974), are known for their expressive forms and environmental sensitivity. From 1974 to 1995, he served as a professor at the Technical University of Vienna, shaping the next generation of architects through his expertise in architectural theory and practice.

Odile Decq is a French architect, urban planner, and educator known for her bold, avant-garde designs that challenge architectural conventions. She gained international recognition with her first major project, the Banque Populaire de l’Ouest in Rennes (1990), which won her the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 1996. Her dynamic work spans architecture, urbanism, and industrial design, characterized by striking forms and contrasting materials. In 2014, she founded the Confluence Institute for Innovation and Creative Strategies in Architecture in Paris. Her numerous accolades include the Jane Drew Prize (2016) and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Architizer (2017).

Sonia Delaunay was a French artist and designer of Ukrainian-Jewish descent, best known for co-founding the Orphism movement with her husband, Robert Delaunay. Her vibrant, geometric compositions extended beyond painting into textiles, fashion, and interior design. In 1913, she collaborated with poet Blaise Cendrars on La prose du Transsibérien et de la Petite Jehanne de France, a groundbreaking fusion of art and literature. Her textile designs influenced early 20th-century fashion, and in 1964, she became the first living female artist to have a retrospective at the Louvre. Her legacy continues to inspire modern artists and designers worldwide.

Elizabeth Diller is a Polish-born American architect and co-founder of Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), an interdisciplinary studio blending architecture, media, and urbanism. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture from The Cooper Union in 1979 and played a pivotal role in designing landmark projects such as New York City's High Line, the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, and The Broad museum in Los Angeles. In 1999, she became the first architect to receive a MacArthur Foundation fellowship. Diller also serves as a professor at Princeton University, influencing contemporary architectural discourse through both practice and academia.

Theo van Doesburg, born Christian Emil Marie Küpper, was a Dutch artist, architect, and writer who played a key role in shaping the De Stijl movement. In 1917, he founded De Stijl magazine, promoting the principles of neoplasticism alongside Piet Mondrian and Gerrit Rietveld. His architectural work, such as the Café de l'Aubette in Strasbourg, integrated bold geometric forms and primary colors, bridging art and architecture. Van Doesburg’s ideas influenced the Bauhaus and modernist movements, advocating for a unified artistic vision across disciplines. His experimental approach continues to inspire contemporary design, leaving a lasting impact on 20th-century architecture and visual arts.

Caroline O'Donnell is an Irish-born architect, educator, and writer known for her environmentally responsive designs and theoretical contributions to architecture. She holds a B.Arch from Manchester University and an M.Arch from Princeton University. As the principal of CODA (Caroline O'Donnell Architecture), she won MoMA PS1's Young Architects Program in 2013 with Party Wall. She is the Edgar A. Tafel Professor and Chair of the Department of Architecture at Cornell University, where she directs the Ecological Action Lab. Her publications, including Niche Tactics (2015) and Werewolf (2021), explore adaptive architectural strategies and sustainable urbanism.

Balkrishna Doshi was a pioneering Indian architect and urban planner who integrated modernist principles with traditional Indian architecture. Born in Pune, he studied at the Sir J.J. School of Architecture in Mumbai before working with Le Corbusier in Paris, later overseeing his projects in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad. Doshi also collaborated with Louis Kahn on the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad. He founded the Vastu-Shilpa Foundation, focusing on sustainable urban development. In 2018, he became the first Indian architect to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize, recognizing his profound influence on architecture, housing, and urban planning in India and beyond.

Andrés Duany is an American architect and urban planner recognized for co-founding the Congress for the New Urbanism, which promotes walkable, sustainable communities. Born in New York City and raised in Cuba until 1960, he earned his architecture degrees from Princeton University and Yale. In 1980, he and his wife, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, founded Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ), gaining prominence for designing Seaside, Florida, a model for New Urbanist planning. DPZ has completed over 300 projects worldwide. Duany has also co-authored influential books such as Suburban Nation and The Smart Growth Manual, shaping contemporary urban design discourse.

Max Dudler is a Swiss architect renowned for his fusion of minimalist design and classical rationalism. Born in Altenrhein, Switzerland, he studied architecture at the Städelschule in Frankfurt and the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin, earning his diploma in 1979. After working with O.M. Ungers, he established his own practice in 1992, with offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Zürich. His notable projects include the Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Centre at Humboldt University in Berlin and the Diocesan Library in Münster. Dudler has also held teaching positions at institutions such as the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, further shaping contemporary architectural thought.