Judges announced for AJ’s 40 Under 40 class of 2020

Architect, best-selling novelist and academic Lesley Lokko will join The Guardian’s architecture and design critic Oliver Wainwright, Sarah Wigglesworth, head of sustainable design practice Sarah Wigglesworth Architects, and Anna Liu of Tonkin Liu, who was one of the AJ 40 Under 40 cohort of 2005.

Chaired by AJ editor Emily Booth, the panel will select a new class of 40 rising stars. The final list will be unveiled in December.

Architects have until noon tomorrow (Friday 30 October) to enter, or nominate their peers, for our celebration of the UK’s most noteworthy emerging architectural talent which this year is being run in association with VitrA.

It is the first time since 2005 that the AJ has run the unique showcase of the nation’s next generation of boundary-pushing designers and innovators.

Launched in 1985 as an RIBA touring exhibition, the inaugural 40-strong list of budding stars included David Chipperfield, Sunand Prasad, Will Alsop, Amanda Levete – then as co-founder of Powis & Levete – and Allies and Morrison founders Bob Allies and Graham Morrison. 

Other up-and-coming names chosen over the years for the prestigious list include Denise and Rab Bennetts of Bennetts Associates, Louisa Hutton and Matthias Sauerbruch of Sauerbruch Hutton, and the founders of what was then Feilden Clegg Design.

The last 40 under 40 cohort included David Adjaye, Amin Taha, AOC, DSDHA, Anna Liu, and the late Gareth Hoskins.

The AJ hopes the new list will be the most diverse yet and feature architects breaking new ground in what they are designing and the sustainable ways they are practising – both socially and environmentally.

Entrants must be ARB-qualified, aged under 40 and be able to show off a range of work, either produced on their own or in their own practices or within larger firms but with proof of authorship from a company director or partner. Submissions must include both visuals and a written statement.

AJ editor Emily Booth said: ‘It has never been more important to champion the work and fresh-thinking from the nation’s emerging talents. These are changing times. We want to unearth these future stars who will be leading the profession into tomorrow with new ways of thinking, designing and doing.

‘We also want to create a diverse roll call, celebrating creativity, flair, environmental awareness and entrepreneurialism, which truly reflects today’s society.’

She added: ‘40 under 40 has a prestigious heritage, and many of those previously selected have gone on to become international names. It is a rare, global shop window and a platform for exciting, fresh and radical talent.’

To enter, complete the application, which can be found here, and include a selection of high-resolution images. Any questions regarding your entry should be emailed to 40under40@emap.com

The 2020 AJ 40 Under 40 is in association with VitrA.