Dagnija Smilga

Architect, curator, winner of the Grand Prix of the Latvian Architecture Award 2022, and co-founder of the architecture studio Ēter. The studio focuses on the interaction between nature, technology and contemporary culture, and was recognised as one of the emerging architecture studios of the year by Dezeen (2022). Smilga received her Master's degree from the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. She worked in the curatorial team of the Baltic Pavilion for the Venice Architecture Biennale (2016). As Associate Director at Hosoya Schaefer Architects (Switzerland), she has managed infrastructure projects of various scale, such as the UP Express railway line in Toronto, a railway station and an airport in Switzerland. Smilga is involved in the creation of the New School of Architecture at the Art Academy of Latvia. The social services centre Pērle in Cēsis has been awarded the LAGB Grand Prix (2022) and has been nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award.

Ilze Martinsone

Head of the Latvian Museum of Architecture, art historian, curator, publicist, and guest lecturer at the Art Academy of Latvia, Martinsone writes on the history of architecture, design, decorative arts, and contemporary issues for Latvian media. She hosts a radio program dedicated to design on Latvian Radio. Her publications can be found in numerous books, including "History of Latvian Art 1915-1940" (Art History Institute of the Art Academy of Latvia, 2016), which received the Latvian Academy of Sciences Prize. Martinsone has presented at international conferences in Latvia and abroad. She was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and awarded a prize for curating the exhibition "Art Deco Style in Latvia" at the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in 1999.

Jānis Šiliņš

Structural engineer with extensive experience in the building materials industry, project manager at Citrus Solutions, where he works on strategic construction projects from design to construction. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering from Riga Technical University and has furthered his knowledge by studying in Denmark. He holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from Riga Business School. Šiliņš is a member of the Latvian Association of Structural Engineers and has contributed to the development of the industry. He has participated in the construction process of many public, residential and industrial buildings, analysing the solutions of each project and delving into their details.

Juris Poga

Architect, founder of the architectural firm Arhitekta J. Pogas birojs, member of the Council of the Latvian Association of Architects, and assistant lecturer at Riga Technical University. He has completed significant buildings across Latvia. Poga was the local partner of Austrian architect Volker Giencke in designing the concert hall Great Amber, which received the Architizer A+Awards Audience Award and the Latvian Architecture Award (2016). Among the projects by Poga are the Vidzeme concert hall Cēsis, the second stage of the Riga Dome Cathedral conservation, which received the Latvian Construction Annual Award (2016), the reconstruction of the Grand Stage in Mežaparks in collaboration with Mailitis Architects, which received the LAGB Grand Prix (2021). Poga has received the Order of the Three Stars.

Linda Krūmiņa

Architect, co-founder of the architectural firm MADE arhitekti, member of the Ethics Committee of the Latvian Association of Architects, winner of the Latvian Architecture Award 2023 Grand Prix. She studied architecture at Riga Technical University, the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, the School of Architecture, Parsons School of Design, and social anthropology at Riga Stradins University. She has worked in architectural firms in Latvia and Denmark (Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter, Henning Larsens Tegnestue, Design Group). She has successfully participated in architectural competitions, lectured at RISEBA Faculty of Architecture and Design. MADE arhitekti was awarded the LAGB Grand Prix for Saldus School of Music and Art (2012), Daile Theatre Square (2023). In 2023 the firm also received the LAGB award for a timber office building in Lizums. The firm’s works have been nominated three times for the Mies van der Rohe Award. The Pitraga Pietura project has been shortlisted for the New European Bauhaus Prize (2024).

Miķelis Putrāms

Chairman of the jury. Architect, certified passive house designer, co-founder of the architectural firm MADE arhitekti, winner of the Latvian Architecture Award 2023 Grand Prix. Putrāms has worked at the architectural firms Plot and B.I.G. in Denmark. He has lectured at European universities and architectural forums and has been a jury member of numerous architectural competitions. MADE arhitekti places a strong public emphasis, the office is setting the bar high in Latvia regarding the future building standards through the use of materials with low embodied energy, the creation of a healthy indoor environment and a focus on energy efficiency. The firm has been awarded the LAGB Grand Prix for the Saldus School of Music and Art (2012), and the Daile Theatre Square (2023). It was also awarded LAGB for a timber office building in Lizums in 2023. The firm’s works have been nominated three times for the Mies van der Rohe Award. The Pitraga Pietura project has been shortlisted for the New European Bauhaus Prize (2024).

Sandis Voldiņš

Member of the Board of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet, Member of the Council of the Latvian Academy of Culture, lecturer. Voldiņš has received a Master's degree in Law from the University of Latvia. He has accumulated long experience in public administration in the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and the State Chancellery, including extensive experience in the field of culture — both as a former State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture and in various public and non-governmental cultural organisations. He has planned and managed large-scale, successful cultural, investment and development projects.