Kathy Basheva Appointed Judge for the World Architecture Festival 2024 – Future Residential Projects

Kathy Basheva, Founder and Creative Director of Studio Basheva, was honoured to serve as a jury member at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2024, one of the most respected international platforms celebrating architectural excellence. She joined the judging panel for the Future Residential Projects category, evaluating visionary proposals that explore the future of housing across different cultures, climates, and urban contexts.

The appointment reflects Kathy's longstanding commitment to architectural quality, innovation, and critical discourse. With more than twenty years of international experience spanning architecture, planning, urban design, and conservation, she brought a multidisciplinary perspective to the judging process. Her professional journey—from Eastern Europe and the Middle East to Germany, China, and the United Kingdom—has shaped a design philosophy rooted in context, timelessness, and the human experience.

The Future Residential Projects category is particularly significant, as it addresses one of architecture's most pressing challenges: how we will live in the decades ahead. The submissions explored themes including sustainability, changing family structures, new construction technologies, environmental resilience, and community-focused design. As a juror, Kathy assessed not only architectural expression but also the social, environmental, and cultural impact of each proposal.

For Kathy, architecture is far more than creating buildings. It is about shaping environments that improve everyday life while responding responsibly to their context. This philosophy aligns closely with Studio Basheva's ethos of designing elegant, enduring architecture that balances innovation with practicality and places people at the centre of every decision.

Serving on the WAF jury also continues Kathy's long-standing contribution to architectural education and professional development. Alongside her role as a guest critic at leading schools of architecture and a long-term juror for international design awards, her participation at WAF reinforces her commitment to supporting emerging talent and advancing meaningful architectural dialogue.

Being invited to judge at the World Architecture Festival is both a professional recognition and an opportunity to contribute to the global conversation about the future of residential architecture—one that is increasingly defined by responsibility, adaptability, and thoughtful design.