Tongji University Visiting Professors Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee from HAS Design and Research Appointed to the RIBA International Awards: Asia Pacific Awards Jury

Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee, the founders and acclaimed architects of the international award-winning practice HAS Design and Research, as well as visiting professors at Tongji University’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning, have been appointed as jurors for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) – RIBA International Awards: Asia Pacific Awards 2025. The announcement appeared on the official RIBA website and the RIBA Architecture Festival Asia website, marking an important recognition of both their architectural practice and professional achievements. This appointment underscores not only Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee’s contributions to contemporary architecture but also their commitment to education and academic research at Tongji University since 2019, where they have served as visiting professors in the College of Architecture and Urban Planning.

The two Tongji University professors, Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee, served in separate jury categories: Jenchieh Hung in the RIBA Awards “Design for Living” category, and Kulthida Songkittipakdee in the RIBA Awards “Social Architecture” category. Their work at Tongji University’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning emphasizes research-driven design studios, as well as courses that focus on human living environments and social contexts. The RIBA International Awards: Asia Pacific Awards 2025 celebrate architectural projects that reflect the unique cultures and identities of the region while addressing contemporary challenges and shaping meaningful ways of living. Their appointments highlight the synergy between the Department of Architecture’s academic leadership – under the chair of the Department of Architecture, Yi Wang, and the vice chair of the Department of Architecture, Yanzhe Hu – and global architectural practice. They also demonstrate how Tongji University’s visiting professors, Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee, bridge education and professional practice in China, Thailand, across the Asia Pacific, and internationally in the United Kingdom.