House of the Future Jury Panel

Buildner is pleased to announce the jury panel for its House of the Future competition!

Charles Walker, Zaha Hadid Architects
Abdul Redha Abu Al Hassan, Roads & Transport Authority (RTA)
Micael Calatrava, Calatrava Grace and Calatrava International
Andrew Mason, Calatrava International
Ahmed Bukhash, Archidentity
Christina Seilern, Studio Seilern Architects
Martin Voelkle, BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
Stefan de Koning, MVRDV
Will Plowman, Foster + Partners

Charles Walker is Director at London-based Zaha Hadid Architects, which he joined in 2007. Previously Charles worked at Ove Arup + Partners where co-founded, in 2000 with Cecil Balmond the Advanced Geometry Unit, and prior to that he was a director at Atelier One Ltd.. Charles is active in architectural education and has been Head of Program in Architecture at the Royal College of Art from 2011-14 and was Visiting Professor in Emerging Technologies at TU Munich in 2010. He taught at the AA School of architecture between 2009 and 2003.

Abdul Redha Abu Al Hassan is Executive Director of Rail Planning and Projects Development of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA). He holds a B.Sc. Degree in Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, University of UAE. He was ranked 18 by Total Rail as one of The 50 World most influential Metro Industry Executives in 2013. He has completed over 200 projects with the Dubai Municipality.

Micael Calatrava is Executive Chairman of real estate development company Calatrava Grace and Chief Executive Officer of Calatrava International, a multidisciplinary engineering firm based in Dubai. In this capacity, he oversees and is responsible for some of the world’s leading infrastructure and construction projects with combined estimated values over $5 billion. As of 2017 the company had ~100 employees under contract. Prior to joining Calatrava MidEast, Calatrava worked at Tortus Capital in New York, a multi-strategy hedge fund focused on value investing. Calatrava identified opportunities across the capital structure and covered equities, capital arbitrage, and special situations. He performed extensive sovereign and Government Sponsored Enterprise credit analysis and managed investment risks regarding capital preservation and hedging strategies. Calatrava also worked in London for a real estate private equity fund where he invested in the German real estate market and managed commercial real estate assets and companies. He is an engineer and a four-time graduate of Columbia University in New York, having earned three degrees in civil engineering and an MBA. Recently Calatrava has returned to Columbia as a guest lecturer in the Business School.


Andrew Mason has an international career in construction and real estate spanning over 30 years, specifically with high-value multi-jurisdictional and complex projects across a wide range of sectors and has worked with government, family office, private and public sectors. He was most recently Head of Project Finance for National Projects Office (UAE Government) and currently works as Director of Contracts for Calatrava International, based in Dubai.


Ahmed Bukhash is Founder of Archidentity, a Dubai-based design firm with a process based on fostering a unique and distinctive identity with all its designs by infusing it with regional symbolism.

Christina Seilern established London-based creative practice Studio Seilern Architects in 2006. Applying her unique style across a range of building typologies, geographies and scales she re-engages in an approach that carefully addresses each project from an in-depth consideration of the detail to the overall massing strategy. She tackles a range of projects from large scale city master plans, down to the more intricate scale of furniture and light fitting design, both the emerging and developed markets.

Martin Voelkle is a Partner at BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group and focuses on architecture, sustainable construction, and technology. Martin has been leading BIG’s collaboration with ICON Build, a developer of advanced construction technologies, including 3D printed buildings that are produced with less waste and in a more expedited manner than typical construction methods. Collaborations with ICON have included affordable housing communities, market rate residential, hospitality and event spaces, and NASA Project Olympus—a research base that will be the first lunar surface construction on another planetary body. Martin is leading BIG’s transportation portfolio with the Zurich International Airport Dock A in Switzerland, a design that celebrates the passenger experience and ease of movement by way of its flexible framework constructed of renewable timber, the largest of its kind. Additionally, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Central, a reconsideration of the BQE transit corridor thru Brooklyn with a focus in accessibility, integration with growing neighborhoods, and incorporated public realm. Martin’s work varies from cultural, infrastructural, residential, and commercial buildings including the Shenzhen Energy Mansion HQ in China; Gowanus active community hub and residence in New York; and the Qianhai Prisma Towers in Shenzhen, China, designed to be a landmark gateway integrated thoughtfully with the existing skyline and public realm; and NABR, a residential building in San Jose. Martin’s design interest and expertise expands to the urban scale with the development of King’s Cross Google HQ in London and Telosa the design for a new city in Nevada. Martin began working at BIG Copenhagen in 2010; he helped build the BIG New York office in 2012; and in 2016 he led the enterprise of BIG’s London office before returning to BIG New York.

Stefan de Koning is a Partner and Architect at Rotterdam-based MVRDV. He has a broad design background that includes both interior architecture, and architecture. Having begun his career working for several artists, and Dutch Opera Interior Designers, De Koning joined MVRDV in 2001. Leveraging the conceptual competencies of his stage and exhibition design experience, de Koning has been integral to the success of numerous MVRDV international competition submissions and completed projects, including Gyre in Tokyo (2007), Future Towers in Pune (2008), Veranda Offices in Colombo (2020) and Mumbai One Green Mile (2022). As director of MVRDV’s EMEA studio, he is currently overseeing the construction of Pixel in Abu Dhabi, Downtown One in Tirana and De Oosterlingen in Amsterdam. Fundamental to his design practice, is pushing boundaries through a strong focus on concept and narrative. He carefully merges the art and practice of building by routinely transforming concepts into built reality, through his dedication to professionalism and consistency. Besides his work for MVRDV, De Koning tutors at TU Delft and lectures all around the world. In recent years, he has lectured at the AIA Middle East, The Cityscape Global Summit in Dubai and the Congress for Sustainable Architecture in Belgrade. He is also a guest critic at UC Berkeley and the National University of Singapore.

Will Plowman is a Partner at Foster + Partners and currently leads the Dubai office of the firm. He earned his degree in architecture from the University of Newcastle and London Metropolitan University, graduating in 2007. Before joining Foster + Partners, he gained valuable site experience working on award-winning residential and educational projects, such as Crouch Hill in London and the UK's first zero-carbon in-use school. Joining Foster + Partners in 2011, Will has worked on several high-profile projects around the world, including the Brooklin Tower in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which showcases sustainable design. As the head of the Dubai office, he has worked closely with the operator and client team for the design and delivery of LANA by Dorchester Collection, a luxury hotel and branded residences development that features seven stunning gardens. Will has been instrumental in the success of this project. With a passion for design and a commitment to excellence, Will has lived and worked in various countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Australia, and the UK, gaining invaluable international experience that has enriched his work. His dedication to his craft and extensive experience in the field have made him a valuable asset to the architectural community.