Zhao Huiyi, a student from the School of Urban Design at Wuhan University (WHU), won the second prize Recognition Rookie's Award at the 13th Asian Contest of Architectural Rookie's Award (ACARA) with her project "Filter and Linker: Variation of Light and Space".

The 13th ACARA award ceremony (from left to right: AUA President Lee Youngil, Zhao Huiyi, Professor Pham Anh Tu from Da Nang University of Architecture).

The 13th ACARA was held from Dec 6 to 8 in Da Nang, Vietnam. The competition attracted 20 architectural contestants and seven judges from 11 countries and regions across Asia, including China, Japan, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, and India.

Zhao advanced to the contest after earning one of two spots to represent China at the 2024 Southeast China Architectural Rookie Contest.

2024 Recognition Rookie's Award certificate.

Competition design drawings by Zhao Huiyi.

The Da Nang University of Architecture and the Asia United Architecture Association (AUA) co-hosted the contest with the theme "Can AI Replace Architecture Design?" Over the years, ACARA has become a key international platform for emerging Asian architecture talent.

Founded in Asia, the AUA is an international organization of architects and educators. The Architectural Rookie's Award was initiated by PhD Lee Youngil, a ROK-Japanese architect in 2009. Since 2012, the competition has expanded to include finalists from various Asian countries, attracting top emerging architectural talents each year.