An independent, international panel of leading architects and design experts comes together in Budapest to evaluate Europe’s most compelling façades for the Baumit Life Challenge 2026. Building on the tradition of previous editions—where an international jury selected the winners—this board brings broad professional perspectives to ensure a fair, expert‑led selection.
Zoltan Peter Molnar is a seasoned Hungarian architect with more than 30 years of experience spanning design, consulting, and expert review. A graduate of the Budapest University of Technology, he built his career on the conviction that architecture thrives at the intersection of engineering precision and creative vision. His work reflects a deep commitment to conscious planning, material understanding, and the continuous refinement of established architectural values. After 15 years in design and 12 years in consulting, he has spent recent years as an expert reviewer, championing thoughtful execution and lasting quality. In recognition of his contributions to the Hungarian construction industry, he received a commendation from the Minister of Innovation and Technology in 2020.
Marion Gruber is an Austrian architect whose work combines professional practice, institutional engagement, and academic teaching. Born in Linz, she studied architecture at the Vienna University of Technology, where she also worked as a teaching assistant at the Institute of Building Science and received the Kunsthallenpreis for her diploma. After gaining experience in several international and Austrian offices, including Mecanoo Architects in the Netherlands, she co‑founded PLOV Architekten ZT GmbH in Vienna in 2012. Alongside her design practice, Gruber has been actively involved in professional representation, serving as spokesperson for IG‑Architektur Vienna and contributing to mentoring initiatives for young architects. She continues her engagement through the Chamber of Civil Engineers and, since 2023, shares her expertise as a lecturer in the master’s program Sustainable Real Estate Management at Carinthia University of Applied Sciences.
Arch. Abadzhiev is a well-known Plovdiv architect and builder. He has designed and implemented over 120 buildings and complexes. He has worked on the development plans of the centers in Plovdiv and Sliven, was the chief designer of sports halls and facilities, swimming complexes, numerous residential and office buildings and such, monuments of culture. A fan of the renovation and energy efficiency of buildings, he successfully combines architectural details with the desire to achieve coziness and comfort in the design and implementation of his projects. His interests extend even to urban planning and innovative engineering solutions. He is the winner of numerous awards.
Jana Mastíková is a Czech architect whose career blends strong urban‑planning foundations with international experience. After studying architecture in Brno and completing a professional internship at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, she built her practice across several studios before joining Prague‑based LOXIA in 2014, where she now serves as chief architect and partner. Leading a 60‑member team, she champions architecture that merges bold creativity with functionality and precision. Her portfolio includes major civic and residential projects such as the New Town Hall in Prague 12, the Jammertal leisure complex, the Mydlinky kindergarten, and large‑scale developments like Suomi Hloubětín and Chateau Troja. Her work reflects a commitment to thoughtful urban development and refined architectural detail.
Matthias Haber is a German architect and professor whose work bridges academic leadership, regulatory expertise, and architectural practice. A partner at Hild und K Architekten since 2011, he has contributed extensively to projects and discourse in Germany and Switzerland. Alongside his professional work, he teaches at the Berliner Hochschule für Technik, bringing a strong focus on building in existing contexts, digital transformation, and regulatory simplification. He serves in several influential committees, including the German Federal Chamber of Architects’ working groups on Umbauordnung and Digitalisierung und Bauen im Bestand, and chairs the Bavarian working group on streamlining building regulations. His career includes international experience in Chicago and advanced studies at ETH Zürich, shaping a profile committed to thoughtful, technically informed architectural development.
César Frías is an award‑winning Spanish architect and the CEO and Design Director of Morph Estudio, one of Spain’s most innovative multidisciplinary architecture firms. Under his leadership, Morph has grown to more than 160 professionals and has become a national benchmark in BIM technology, sustainability, and large‑scale urban projects. His portfolio includes landmark developments such as the Martiricos Towers in Málaga, Sunset Cliffs in Benidorm, and the acclaimed Bosque de Atocha, winner of the Outstanding Property Award London. Focused on bold, high‑rise and mixed‑use architecture, Frías is a leading voice in shaping contemporary urban design across Spain and beyond.
Andrija Rusan is a prominent Croatian architect, publisher, and curator whose career spans architectural practice, cultural production, and international exhibition work. Born in Zagreb and educated at the Faculty of Architecture there, he has led his own studio, Rusan’s Office, since 1986 while contributing significantly to architectural discourse. He participated in the IBA Berlin exhibition with Zagreb, Ah Zagreb and later co‑authored major curatorial projects such as Continuity of Modernity and the book Contemporary Croatian Architecture – Testing Reality. As publisher and editor of Oris magazine since 1998, he has twice received the Neven Šegvić Award, complementing earlier honors such as the Drago Galić Award and the Dedalo Minosse Prize. Alongside his publishing and curatorial work, Rusan has designed numerous interiors, residences, office buildings, and public facilities, with several projects featured in international architectural atlases and publications. His lectures and exhibitions continue to shape the architectural landscape both in Croatia and abroad.
Samuel Netočný is a Czech architect whose international studies in Brno, Brighton, and Vienna shaped a comprehensive approach to architecture—balancing technical precision, conceptual exploration, and broad social context. Together with colleague Vojtěch Jemelka, he developed a manifesto for localism under the KKKD label, researching vernacular forms and the functional logic of architecture without architects. His work embraces a pragmatic‑romantic perspective, valuing purposeful detailing, sensitive integration into the landscape, and knowledge passed down through generations. Netočný approaches each commission individually, prioritizing humility toward the site and creating architecture that complements its surroundings through clarity, logic, and restraint.
Lorenzo Gasperini is an Italian architect with over four decades of professional experience rooted in his native Trieste. A graduate of the University of Venice, he began his career in the early 1980s before founding Studio Gasperini in 1985, which has since grown into a multidisciplinary group active in architectural design, restoration, and general contracting. His work spans new constructions, historic‑building restorations, luxury interiors, commercial spaces, and large‑scale façade and energy‑efficiency projects across Trieste. Gasperini has also served his community through roles on multiple municipal building commissions and as Mayor of Muggia. Beyond architecture, he is active in cultural and sporting events, contributes to major city happenings like the Barcolana regatta, and pursues personal passions in art and long‑distance cycling. His extensive portfolio reflects a sustained commitment to quality, heritage, and civic engagement.
Architect, Founder and Member of the Management Board of Schleifer Milczanowski SIM Architekci sp.k. Architect, graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at Gdańsk University of Technology, member of the Association of Polish Architects (SARP). Since 2005, he has co-created and led the design office SIM Architekci. Winner of the Forbes Professionals award – Public Trust Profession in the Architect category. Author and co-author of awarded and recognized architectural designs and built projects, two-time recipient of the President of Gdynia Award “Czas Gdyni” for Best Architecture in 2017 and 2021; nominated for the President of the City of Gdańsk Award in the competition for the Best Architectural Realization in Gdańsk 2022–2023; distinguished in the Baumit Facade of the Year 2023 and Baumit Life Challenge 2023 competitions
Bogdan‑Constantin Neagu is a Bucharest‑born architect with more than two decades of distinguished practice in Romanian architecture. A graduate of the “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urbanism, he founded NBC ARHITECT in 2003, a studio later recognized among Romania’s top 50 architectural practices. Under his leadership, the firm has built a reputation for versatility and excellence, earning nominations across nearly all major annual and biennial architecture categories—from building design and rehabilitation to interior, object design, and urbanism. This broad recognition places NBC ARHITECT among the few Romanian firms with achievements spanning the full architectural spectrum, reflecting Neagu’s commitment to quality, innovation, and thoughtful design.
Polona Filipič Gorenšek is a Slovenian architect, educator, and co‑founder of Studio Stratum, where she has developed award‑winning architectural and urban planning projects recognized nationally and internationally. A graduate of the University of Ljubljana and the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam, she combines professional practice with a strong academic career as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Architecture in Ljubljana. Her work focuses on sustainable urban and rural revitalization, spatial development, and architecture as infrastructure. Beyond teaching, she co‑founded the Center for Architecture Slovenia, curates exhibitions, publishes widely, and leads workshops at home and abroad. Actively engaged in professional bodies and municipal planning councils, she contributes to advancing architectural culture while also pursuing interests in sailing, cultural exploration, and creative collaboration.
Kurtul Erkmen entered the Department of Architecture at Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts in 1978 and graduated in 1983 as an M. Architect. He started working at TE İnşaat with M. ArchitectŞemi Erkmen and M. Architect Lemi Erkmen in 1980. He gained experience mainly in housing projects and applications. Erkmen undertakes domestic and international projectswithin KG Mimarlık, of which he became a founding partner in 1990. He has implementedprojects in various cities outside of Turkiye such as Moscow, Düsseldorf, Chicago, Medina, Ashgabat, Chimgan, Samarkand, Astana, Bucharest, Bacau, Timisoara, and Constanta. Erkmen, whose works have been exhibited and won awards in architectural competitions he has participated in, continues to contribute to the profession as an invited jury member, workshop manager, speaker or moderator in panels and conferences at competitions anduniversities. He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Aura-Istanbul, of which he was a founding partner in 2017, and works on various professional social responsibility projects. Inaddition to being a member of the Board of Directors of the Istanbul Planning Agency, he also serves as the President of Istanbul Association of Architects In Private Practice and thePresident of Federation of Associations of Architects In Private Practice.
