Jury
Kelly Hoppen CBE
Interior & Product Designer, Author, TV personality
Having changed the face of the design industry with her East Meets West style, multi-award winning designer Kelly Hoppen CBE is one of the most sought-after designers of her generation. Her work is characterised by clean lines, neutral tones, and a warm, opulent touch. Over her 46-year career, Hoppen has become one of the most sought-after designers of her generation, earning numerous awards, including an MBE for services to interior design in 2009 and a CBE in 2020 for promoting British creativity globally.Hoppen’s passion for design is clear in her extensive portfolio, which spans exclusive commercial properties, private homes, superyachts, jets, and 5-star hotels. Her team delivers meticulously crafted interiors, paying attention to every detail. She has also authored 10 books and collaborated with select brands to create home product lines.Beyond design, Hoppen is committed to mentoring young talent and supports causes like The Princes’ Trust and The Diana Awards, reflecting her dedication to nurturing the next generation.
Elie Gamburg AIA LEED AP
Principal at KPF
Working from both New York and London, Elie Gamburg has 20 years of experience creating innovative designs for cities, institutions, companies, and developers. Across a wide range of project types around the world, Gamburg’s work is consistently sensitive to a human scale, an urban context, and sustainable practices.
Gamburg designed the Boston Seaport Square Master Plan, fostering innovation in research and technology, and Channelside in Boston, blending lab, office, and residential spaces near the historic Fort Point District. In Dubai, Gamburg led the design of Atlantis The Royal, featuring “sky courts” that provide private outdoor spaces for major suites, redefining luxury living. He also reimagined NYU Shanghai’s campus, stacking diverse programs on a constrained urban site.
Gamburg has taught design studios at his alma maters, Columbia GSAPP, and Tongji University, and was an adjunct professor at NYIT for eight years. As a guest critic, he has contributed to prestigious institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Columbia. He actively participates in the New York AIA, chairing the Global Dialogues Committee, and is involved with ULI in both the US and Europe.
Stefan Rier
Co-founder of NOA* (Network of Architecture)
Stefan Rier graduated in Interior Design from the “Andrea Palladio” Study Center in Verona and later enrolled in the architecture faculty at the University of Ferrara. During his studies, he worked as an interior designer for his family company, Rier Carpentry. He first worked as an architect with Arch. Demetz, then moved to Bergamo to work with Prof. Massimiliano Mandarini and eventually joined the studio of Matteo Thun in Milan. After receiving his professional qualification as an architect at the University of Genova, in 2011 Rier co- founded NOA together with Lukas Rungger. NOA is an award-winning collective of architects and interior designers, which now counts over 30 members with headquarters in Bolzano and three additional offices opened in Berlin, Milan and Turin. Since then, Rier has been working on projects in the sector of hospitality, housing, commercial and office use, both in terms of architecture and interior design. He also carried out projects in product design. Today, he is a member of the Chamber of Architects and Planners of Bolzano.
Lukas Rungger
Co-founder of NOA* (Network of Architecture)
Lukas Rungger graduated from the Graz Technical University with a master’s degree in architecture; he previously spent a study period in Brussels and New York City, where he completed his graduation thesis.
Rungger first worked as an architect with Prof. Hans Gangoly in Graz, then moved to London to gain further experience at Softroom Architects and finally joined the studio of Matteo Thun in Milan. After achieving his professional qualification as an architect at IUAV University in Venice, in 2011 Rungger founded NOA together with Stefan Rier . In his architectural practice, Rungger has been extensively involved in a wide range of projects in the field of urban design, housing, hotels and interior design of bars and restaurants. He was a member of the RIBA Royal Institute of British Architecture and is now a member of the Chamber of Architects and Planners of Bolzano.
Annamaria Lambri
Architect, Chair of the Department of Interior Design, and Associate Professor of Interior Design at the American University in Dubai, UAE.
Born in Italy, Architect Annamaria Lambri studied architecture at Politecnico di Milano, Italy; she then specialised in interior design (hospitality design). She has working on numerous projects ranging from international exhibitions to commercial, residential, and hospitality design both in Italy and internationally. She moved to the UAE where she was involved in a variety of prestigious high-end commercial and residential design projects, including several hospitality design projects for some of the major international hotel operators.
As Chair of the Department of Interior Design, and Associate Professor of Interior Design at the American University in Dubai, UAE., Lambri’s research and publications focus on human-centered design. Her primary area of interest is the development of the hospitality design field and its implications.
She is an Architect, AIA International Associate Member (The American Institute of Architects), RIBA Chartered Member (Royal Institute of British Architects), and IDEC Member (Interior Design Educators Council). She is also a CRID Member (Center for Research, Innovation, and Design at AUD).
Shivani Ajmera
Co-founder of Quirk Studio
Shivani Ajmera explored the world of advertising, but the world of design was her calling. Channelling her creative energy, cultivated and groomed through her love for art, music and theatre, she went on to pursue Interior Design at the Florence Design Academy, Italy. Her experience of working with leading firms like Talati and Panthaky Associates, reD Architects, Elle Decor India and Restoration Hardware, USA, paved a path to creating compelling design solutions that adds an edge to the projects undertaken by Quirk Studio.
Disha Bhavsar
Co-founder & Principal Designer at Quirk Studio
An art and design enthusiast, Disha grew up in Muscat, Oman, and moved to Mumbai for an undergraduate degree in Interior Design. She garnered experience by working with established names like Milind Pai Architects, Beyondesign and Elle Decor. She furthered her academic achievements by pursuing an MA in Design Management at the Winchester School of Arts, University of Southampton and polished her design sensibilities that are reflected in a novel yet rooted approach, and are now translated in the projects at Quirk Studio.
Past jury
