THE JUDGES
ANDREW FROST
Founder / Director , Darkhorse Architecture (Vietnam)
Andrew has successfully worked as design director with numerous international design practices in Australia, Europe, and Asia, for 25 years. His works include leading designs for 3 consecutive Olympic Games, completing several significant mixed use and commercial developments, undertaking many hospitality commissions and leading an international retail design group. In establishing Darkhorse Architecture, Andrew believes that there is missing design service that understands and balances all aspects of achieve high quality design and the client’s commercial requirements.
Andrew knows what it takes to deliver high quality project outcomes through all of the phases of creating and delivering projects. This is what Andrew aspires to bring to the exciting and dynamic economies of South East Asia.
BILL BENSLEY
Creative Director, Bensley Studios (Thailand & Indonesia)
Bill Bensley graduated from the Harvard School of Design, and has since practiced a variety of disciplines, including interior design, landscape design and architecture on projects internationally. Bensley’s studios – in Bangkok and Bali – have become known for a unique style that is playful, flamboyant and often ostentatious.
A passion for his work and the need to have fun have fueled the creation of the multiple award-winning studios’ prolific portfolios, which include over 200 residences, hotels and resorts in over 30 countries.
Not content to just design, Bensley is also intimately involved in the development of an eco-resort in Cambodia – Shinta Mani – where he has worked with local communities to help foster sustainable development, and most importantly to provide a reliable source of fresh clean drinking water for local residents.
Bensley has published two monographs, speaks regularly at events internationally, and has been named on of Architectural Digest magazine’s “Top 100 Architects”.
DAVID ROCKWELL
Founder and President, Rockwell Group (USA)
David Rockwell, FAIA, is the founder and President of Rockwell Group, an interdisciplinary architecture and design firm based in New York with a satellite office in Madrid that emphasizes innovation and thought leadership in every project. Merging theater, performance and architecture to create extraordinary experiences and built environments across the globe, the firm’s work includes hospitality, luxury residential, airport terminals, cultural institutions, set design, products, exhibitions, and festivals.
Projects include Union Square Cafe (New York); Nobu restaurants and hotels worldwide; Warner Music Group (Los Angeles); W Hotels (New York, Nashville, Paris, Madrid, Suzhou, Singapore and Vieques); Moxy Hotels (Chelsea, Times Square and East Village); The Shed (Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Lead Architect, and Rockwell Group, Collaborating Architect); the National Building Museum 2019 Summer Block Party (Washington, D.C.); the Hayes Theater (New York); NeueHouse (New York and Hollywood); TED Theater (Vancouver); product collections for Knoll, Stellar Works, Rich Brilliant Willing, and The Rug Company; and set designs for She Loves Me, Kiss Me Kate, Tootsie, the Public
Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park, and The Shed’s inaugural commission, Soundtrack of America.
Honors and recognition include 2016 Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Scenic Design for She Loves Me; the AIANY President’s Award; the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award; and the Presidential Design Award.
LE TRUONG
Founder & CEO, TT-Associates (Vietnam)
I was born and raised in Hanoi. In 1977 I began studying at Hanoi Architecture University, graduating from the Architecture and Planning Department in 1983. In 1990, I started my design career as a managing architect at an architecture consulting firm that belonged to the Civil Engineering University in Vietnam. Then in 2004 I founded TT Associates.
I’ve been fortunate to have had many chances to collaborate with companies from Japan, Europe and America on several projects in Vietnam. I’ve designed over 100 projects from offices to residences and hospitality spaces in Vietnam and Laos, and I’ve had many study tours in many countries in the world.
In 2012 I founded TTA Partners company. TT Associates and TTA Partners have been recognised with multiple “Top Ten Architects – Vietnam” awards by BCI Asia. In 2016 I was granted an “ASEAN architect” certificate and in the Architecture of Integration festival held in Korea in 2017 I was recognised as one of the 100 Architects of the Year.
I’ve been a jury member in many national and international architecture competitions in Vietnam, including being on the annual graduation jury for the Architecture Department of Civil Engineering University and Architecture University in Hanoi. I’ve also participated in many international conferences in Vietnam as a speaker.
LILLIAN WU
Founder and Principal, Lillian Wu Studio (USA)
Lillian Wu has been crafting a unique philosophy of luxury hospitality with designers, developers and brand owners from planning and design to construction. She drove herself to become the youngest and first female firm partner and later the founder and principal of her very own enterprise, Lillian Wu Studio in Tribeca NYC.
The studio works tirelessly on projects from the Americas to Europe and Asia — from small-scale private residence in Beverly Hills to large commercial developments including Rosewood Yangon and Khos Hoi An. The firm prides themselves on delivering the highest-caliber quality to satisfy even the most selective clients.
Judges are introduced by alphabetical order.