DAY 1

Opening Ceremony - Global Mega Trends

The opening ceremony featured keynote addresses by Dr. Valerie Vaughan-Dick, Chief Executive Officer of RIBA; Sarah Mann, Consul-General, British Consulate-General Guangzhou; Meng Jianmin, Chief Architect of Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design Research Co. Ltd.; Chris Williamson, President of RIBA; and XQ Zhang, General Manager of Sinoexpo Informa Markets. The speakers extended a warm welcome and sincere appreciation to global architectural peers, media representatives, and corporate partners.

As the speeches concluded, distinguished guests jointly witnessed the official launch of RAFA 2025, marking the opening of one of the most anticipated architectural events of the year. Over the following two days, nearly 100 renowned architects and thought leaders from China and abroad gathered in Shenzhen to share insights and visionary ideas.

Launch Ceremony Participants (in order)

Umi Lyu, Head of Development, China & Asia, RIBA

Bo Hongtao, Honorary Chair, RIBA China Chapter; Director & Chief Architect, CCTN Design

Chen Ribiao, President of Shenzhen Association of Surveying and Design,

General Manager and Chief Architect of Huayi Design Consultants (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.

Belinda Irlam-Mowbray, Honorary Fellow of RIBA, RIBA Executive Director

Peter Cook, Winner of the 2004 RIBA Royal Gold Medal, Founder of Archigram

Sarah Mann, Consul-General, British Consulate-General Guangzhou

Dr. Valerie Vaughan-Dick, CEO of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

Chris Williamson, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

Yap Lay Bee, Group Director of Architecture & Urban Design at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA); Prize Secretary of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize

XQ Zhang, General Manager of Sinoexpo Informa Markets·

Prof. Ruffina Thilakaratne, RIBA International Council Member, Asia and Australasia Region·

Dennis Ho, RlBA Hong Kong Chapter Chair, Founder of Design_Curate_Places

Jo Bacon, Managing Partner, Allies and Morrison

Following the launch ceremony, two distinguished speakers delivered keynote presentations:

Yap Lay Bee shared insights from the perspective of policy and urban governance in “Shaping Singapore through Urban Design”.

Peter Cook presented “Piquant Motivatio”, reflecting on experimental practice and future-oriented architectural thinking.

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Symposium I: Innovation in Design, Development and Policy

Moderated by Irene Qian, Forbes China Research Institute Dean, Forbes China GM Business Operation, this symposium explored future architectural frameworks through keynote speeches by:

Wolf D. Prix, Co-founder, CEO and Design Principal, COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

Keynote Topic: DEEP HIMMELBLAU AND OTHER ICE CREAMS

Nille Juul-Sørensen, Global Business Leader for Architecture at Arup

Keynote Topic: Belonging, stations architecture that helped change a city

Chen Ribiao, President of Shenzhen Association of Surveying and Design, General Manager and Chief Architect of Huayi Design Consultants (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.

Keynote Topic: Smaller, Higher, Faster. Appoaches to Solving the Housing Challenge in Major Citie

A subsequent panel discussion brought together leaders from architecture, urban design, finance, and public policy to examine how policy innovation can drive breakthroughs in design and development, enhance urban competitiveness, and address rapidly evolving societal needs.

Panelists:

Irene Qian, Forbes China Research Institute Dean, Forbes China GM Business Operation

Wolf D Prix,Co-founder, CEO,  Design Principal, COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

ZHOU Lida, Vice President, Yuexiu Commercial, Management Company

Yap Lay Bee, Group Director of Architecture & Urban Design at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA); Prize Secretary of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize

LI Yuchen, Expert Reviewer of the Ministry of Finance of China,Vice President of UNILUMIN GROUP CO,LTD

ZHANG Yuxing, Founder and Chief Designer of ARCity Office, General Director of Shenzhen Biennale Public Art Foundation

Symposium II: Future Business of Architecture

The second symposium of the day focused on the future of architectural practice, moderated by Qu Jiaqi, CTBUH Asia Regional Associate Director. Speakers included:

·

Chris Williamson, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

Adrian Malleson, Head of Research of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

Keith Griffiths, Design leader and founder of Aedas

Jo Bacon, Managing Partner, Allies and Morrison

Christopher Lye, Hub Executive Chair – Hong Kong & Shenzhen & Singapore, Woodsbagot

Florence Chan, Principal, KPF

Ronn Yong, Director of Design and Development, Tian An China Investments Ltd.

The panel discussion addressed how Asian architectural firms can balance global excellence with local engagement in emerging markets across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, while proactively responding to the transformative impact of artificial intelligence over the next 5–10 years, with a special guest, Paul McComb, Executive Director, The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

Greater Bay Area Night - Cocktail Party

On the evening of December 16, the “Great Bay Area Night” Cocktail Party was held at the Mangrove Hall of the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. Nearly 100 guests from architectural practices, investment, and development sectors gathered for an evening of networking and exchange, celebrating collaboration and reflecting on the challenges and opportunities ahead.

At the opening of the party, Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick, CEO of RIBA, Chris Williamson, President of RIBA, and XQ Zhang, General Manager of Sinoexpo Informa Markets, delivered welcome remarks in succession. They expressed their appreciation to the speakers, guests and partners for their participation, shared the vision and founding objectives of the RIBA Architecture Festival Asia, and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing architectural excellence and innovation globally.

In recognition of the strong support provided by partners and contributors, Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick and Chris Williamson presented awards for Best Contributing Supporting Organisations, Best Contributing Curators, and Best Contributing Forum Chairs. The award recipients were as follows:

Best Contributing Supporting Organisations:

RICS; Shenzhen University; XJTLU; Unilumin; ArAsia; North Glass; CR Materials; Glodon; Bucalu; BWT; Vitra

Best Contributing Curators:

Benjamin Chan (Digital Exhibition)

Terrence Yip (Digital Exhibition)

Enran Zhang (WIA Exhibition)

Best Contributing Forum Chairs

Qi Yi; Qu Fei; Li Xiaoyu; Zhang Ziqian; Yang Yinan; Xiao Jing; Zhang Yunyu

Live Design Review - RIBA Asia Pacific Awards

At the same time, the final Live Design Review for the RIBA Asia Pacific Awards was held at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. A total of 63 of the most diverse and innovative projects from across the Asia-Pacific region were presented in nine live jury rooms and reviewed on site by 30 award jurors, competing for final recognition across 10 award categories of the RIBA Asia Pacific Awards.

Day 2

On 17 December, the festival entered a second day of deeper and more wide-ranging exploration. The programme addressed how AI and generative design are reshaping architectural creativity, alongside discussions on healthy, resilient and people-centred cities, the contribution of women architects, and the future of architectural education and talent development. Each session translated emerging ideas into practical insights, culminating in the RIBA Asia Pacific Awards Ceremony, where outstanding achievements across the region were formally recognised.

Symposium III: Future of Technology - AI and Generative Design

A key symposium on “Future of Technology - AI and Generative Design” brought together diverse perspectives to examine the transformative impact of digital technologies on the built environment. Moderated by Meng Zi, Principal Architect at ARC Z (Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design and Research), the session featured a series of keynote presentations exploring technological innovation, artificial intelligence and generative design methodologies.

Keynote speakers included Chris Williamson, President of RIBA, who launched the RIBA AI Report 2025; James Liu, Vice President of Beijing Intelligent Building Association; Board Director and Senior Vice President of Glodon Company Limited, on the integration of AI and BIM in reshaping digital productivity; Craig Miller, Partner & Head of China Studio, Heatherwick Studio, on human-centred design in the digital era; and Emily Phang, Senior Executive Partner, Strategic Development Partner, Foster + Partners, who discussed technology as a catalyst for collaboration and people-focused design.

The symposium concluded with a panel discussion featuring Stephen Pimbley, Founding  Director of SPARK; Michael Kwok, Director, Asia Pacific Region of Arup; XIAO Ran, PhD in Architecture, University of Cambridge; Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Brookes University; Founder & CEO, Planarific; Prof. Philip Yuan, Vice Dean, College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University; SHEN Xiaofei, SJ Innovation Global High Performance Design Technology Lead, SJ Group

; and Patrik Schumacher, Chairman and Chief Designer of Zaha Hadid Architects. The panel explored the role of AI data platforms in enabling sustainable urban development, key challenges in the implementation of intelligent construction technologies, and the most promising applications of generative design, offering valuable insights into the future of architectural practice.

Symposium IV: Sustainability - Well-being and Resilience :Healthy Human Cities

Another key symposium focused on “Well-being and Resilience :Healthy Human Cities”, exploring pathways towards sustainable and people-centred living environments. Moderated by Deng Yuanye, Editor-in-Chief of Wallpaper China Edition，Partner of Atelier Youyi, the session brought together leading architects to share perspectives from both urban ecology and engineering systems.

Keynote presentations included “Urban Ergonomics” by Kengo Kuma, Founder, Kengo Kuma and Associates, RIBA Honorary Fellow, and “When Earth and Sky Meet: Biome’s Approach to Healthy Urban Architecture” by Chitra Vishwanath, Senior Architect and Managing Director of Biome Environmental Solutions. Together, the talks examined how architecture can mediate between natural systems, human experience and urban resilience.

The subsequent panel discussion, moderated by Deng Yuanye, featured Garett Hwang, Director of UNS; ZHUANG Ziyu, Founder and Principal Architect, BUZZ/Büro Ziyu Zhuang; Prof. Heng Chye Kiang, Deputy Dean College of Design & Engineering National University of Singapore; HAO Lin, Senior Director, Oval Partnership, RIBA International Award Winner 2012; Frank Jiang, Founder and Chief Designer of J&A. The discussion centred on human-centred design strategies for healthy cities, addressing the complex relationship between technical performance, historical layers and lived experience, and highlighting the importance of systemic, forward-looking thinking in shaping inclusive and sustainable urban futures.

Symposium V: Sustainability - Asia ESG with Green Design

A further symposium examined Asian ESG and Green Design, moderated by Melvin Tan, Former President of the Singapore Institute of Architects; Joint Managing Director, LAUD Architects. Keynote speakers included Rocco Yim, Founder of Rocco Design Architects, who reflected on urban development in Hong Kong, and Ethan Yao, Deputy General Manager, Chief Architect, Design Management, China Resources Land, who discussed the creation of sustainable and socially responsive urban communities.

The session concluded with a panel discussion featuring Matthew Potter, Director at WilkinsonEyre; Giovanni Podestà, Director at Studio Fuksas; Daniel Statham, Founder & Director of Daniel Statham Studio; Stefan Krummeck, Global Director of Farrells; YANG Bangsheng, Founder and President of YANG & Associates Group; YU Qiang, Founder and Design Director, YuQiang & Partners. The panel explored the impact of ESG frameworks on green architectural design in Asia, balancing cost and long-term value in sustainable development, and the challenges and opportunities for multinational practices implementing ESG standards across diverse Asian markets.

Symposium VI: Women in Architecture: She is an Architect

A dedicated symposium addressing the contribution of women to the architectural profession formed an important part of the festival programme. Through two themed roundtable sessions, leading women architects and industry practitioners shared perspectives on professional practice, leadership and diversity within the global architectural community.

The forum opened with welcome remarks by Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick, CEO of RIBA, who highlighted the increasingly vital role of women architects in shaping the profession and emphasised the need to continue fostering equity, diversity and inclusion across the industry.

The first session was moderated by Enran Zhang, Senior Architect at Chapman Taylor and Honorary Treasurer of RIBA China Chapter. Speakers included Jean Weng, Woods Bagot Director, Mixed Use Sector Leader – China, and Betty Ng, Founder, COLLECTIVE Studio. Drawing on international projects and research-led practice, the speakers reflected on their educational backgrounds and professional milestones, illustrating diverse pathways through which women architects have developed global careers.

The panel discussion was moderated by Ken Wai, Global Design Principal, Aedas; Former Honorary Chair, RIBA China Chapter and Concil Member of Asia & Australasia Region, the panel featured Garett Hwang, Director of UN studio, Prof. Ruffina Thilakaratne, RIBA International Council Member, Asia and Australasia Region, and Susan Shu Du, Director, Head of China, BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group). The discussion examined the question of what women architects contribute to the profession, addressing the current professional landscape for women in Asia, strategies to enhance equality and diversity, and practice-based approaches to creating more inclusive working environments.

A second Ask the Architect session, again moderated by Enran Zhang, brought together Chitra Vishwanath, Senior Architect and Managing Director of Biome Environmental Solutions, Prof. Julie Willis, Professor of Architecture and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning, University of Melbourne, and Sook Yieh Vun, Director, Project Management Consultancy of WSP. The conversation focused on professional identity, personal development and leadership, highlighting how women architects shape design approaches and drive transformation within the profession.

The concluding panel discussion, moderated by Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick, featured May Wei, DBW (Design Better World) Founder, General Manager; AIASH Chair, Board Member and Kulthida Songkittipakdee, Co-Founder and Principal Architect, Thailand-based firm Jenchieh Hung + Kulthida Songkittipakdee / HAS design and research. The panel explored structural challenges affecting women in architecture, including the transition from education to practice, and discussed pathways towards greater equity through mentorship, inclusive team structures, intersectional approaches and systematic evaluation mechanisms.

The forum concluded with a curated exhibition tour led by Enran Zhang, offering further opportunities for dialogue and exchange.

WIA Exhibition

RIBA Digital Exhibition

Alongside the festival programme, the RIBA Digital Exhibition was presented throughout RAFA 2025, offering a curated overview of RIBA’s key awards and future-facing initiatives. The exhibition showcased the RIBA Royal Gold Medal, RIBA Asia Pacific Awards, RIBA President’s Medals, and the RIBA Metaverse Competition, highlighting both architectural excellence and emerging digital directions within the profession.

The exhibition was curated by Benjamin Chan, Director, LWK + PARTNERS, and Terrence Ki Ming Yip, RIBA China Chapter Committee Member, Architect, Foster + Partners, providing visitors with a comprehensive perspective on RIBA’s awards framework, design culture and evolving engagement with digital platforms.

Gala Dinner - RIBA Asia Pacific Awards Ceremony

Following the on-site review on 16 Dec, the RIBA Asia Pacific Awards (RAFA) 2025 awards ceremony was held in grand style on the evening of January 17, celebrating the announcement of the region’s outstanding architectural achievements.

As a new component of the RIBA International Awards, the RIBA Asia Pacific Awards focus on the rapid development of architectural practice in Asia and the Pacific, showcasing the region’s innovative spirit and creative vitality.

Before the ceremony officially commenced, keynote speeches were delivered by Dr. Valerie Vaughan-Dick, CEO of RIBA; Chris Williamson, President of RIBA; and Wang Mingliang, Founder and Director of Shanghai Bohua International Exhibition Co., Ltd. They collectively highlighted the significance of the awards in promoting architectural innovation, sustainable practice, and cross-cultural dialogue, while paying tribute to all shortlisted projects for their professional excellence.

Dr. Valerie Vaughan-Dick, CEO of RIBA

Wang Mingliang, Founder & Director, Sinoexpo lnforma Markets

Chris Williamson, President of RIBA, delivering his speech

Following the speeches, the ceremony proceeded to its core segment—the announcement and presentation of the RIBA Asia Pacific Awards. The awards were presented across four rounds, gradually elevating the excitement and energy of the event.

Concluding the evening, Dr. Valerie Vaughan-Dick delivered a closing address, expressing gratitude to RIBA members, the Asia Pacific team, the organizing team, partners and sponsors, as well as the shortlisted and winning projects. She emphasized the role of architecture in shaping sustainable, inclusive, and culturally grounded societies. Dr. Vaughan-Dick remarked that the event showcased the very best of architecture and expressed anticipation for future celebratory occasions, concluding with wishes for a good night and safe travels for all attendees.

DAY 3

Held at Shenzhen Bay Cultural Sqaure, the “One City, One River: Architectural Dialogues” event formed an important part of the RIBA Asia Architecture Celebration series, bringing together leading experts and practitioners from architecture, urban design, and cultural sectors both from China and abroad.

The event focused on Shenzhen Bay as a key urban public space, exploring multiple dimensions including urban renewal, public architecture, landscape design, and public cultural life. Through keynote presentations and roundtable discussions, participants shared their professional experiences and insights, examining how architecture can respond to urban development, the natural environment, and public life.

During the event, nearly 100 industry professionals took part in an on-site tour of Shenzhen Bay Cultural Plaza. Guided visits and interactive discussions allowed attendees to gain a deeper understanding of the spatial characteristics and urban value of the project.

The event not only highlighted the spatial potential of Shenzhen Bay Cultural Plaza as a vibrant urban “living room,” but also provided valuable insights for the sustainable development of public spaces and cross-disciplinary dialogue in the future.