The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has unveiled the winners of its 2025 President’s Medals, spotlighting exceptional architecture students from around the globe. The awards, running for 189 years, received a record 378 entries this year, highlighting a surge in innovative, socially conscious design.

The Silver Medal went to Glory Kamthumzi of the University of the Free State, South Africa, marking the first win for both the university and a South African school. Her project, ‘Dialogues in Sticks and Stones’, reimagines a memorial at Nkhotakota, Malawi, integrating the legacy of the East African slave trade into a contemplative, multifunctional landscape. Kamthumzi’s design merges heritage with community spaces, turning historical reflection into an immersive architectural experience.

The Bronze Medal was awarded to William Li from Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, for ‘Contemplating the “Dam”olition’. Li envisions a post-dam Helsinki landscape where biodiversity and multi-species habitation thrive, pushing sustainability to the forefront of architectural planning. His work exemplifies how ecological priorities can drive bold, forward-looking design solutions.

The Dissertation Medal recognised Finlay Aitken, also from Bartlett, for ‘Remaking the Extractive Island’, a critical study of Shetland’s shifting landscapes and the interplay between environmental management, identity, and local traditions. Aitken’s thesis challenges conventional approaches to extractive spaces, proposing new frameworks for how architecture engages with history and place.

Across categories, commendations highlighted a strong focus on sustainability, social engagement, and innovation. Projects explored themes from thawing permafrost infrastructures to urban redevelopment in Asia, demonstrating how emerging architects are expanding the discipline beyond traditional boundaries.

RIBA President Chris Williamson emphasised the growing role of architects as community advocates and environmental stewards, with this new generation demonstrating ethical responsibility alongside design excellence.

Explore the full roster of award-winning projects and discover the ideas shaping the future of architecture in education and practice.