Meet the architects

_{Architects Yvonne Farrell and Shelly McNamara, Grafton Architects. Photo © Alice Clancy.} Grafton Architects were founded in Dublin in 1978 by Shelley McNamara (b.1952, Ireland) and Yvonne Farrell (b.1951, Ireland). They have designed domestic homes, as well as major public buildings, becoming renowned for education buildings such as the University Luigi Bocconi in Milan, Italy (2008) and this year’s Stirling Prize nominated University of Limerick (2012).

_{Architect Diébédo Francis Kéré. Photo © David Heerde.} Diébédo Francis Kéré (b.1965, Gando, Burkina Faso) studied in Germany starting his Berlin based practice, Kéré Architecture, in 2005. He has built a number of schools and community buildings in Burkina Faso and across Western Africa receiving the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2004 for his Primary School in Gando (1999).

_{Architect Kengo Kuma. Photo © The Courier.} Kengo Kuma (b.1954, Kanagawa, Japan) leads a large practice with a worldwide profile. Recent buildings include the Asakusa Tourist Information Centre (2012), Sake No Hana restaurant interior, St. James’s, London (2007) and the upcoming V&A Dundee (on-going).

_{Architect Li Xiaodong, inside the Liyuan Library Photo © Kate Goodwin} Li Xiaodong (b.1963, China) is Professor of History and Theory at the Tsinghua University School of Architecture and also runs his own small atelier. His work includes the Bridge School, Xiashi, China (2009) which won an Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2010 and the Liyuan Library, China (2011).

_{Mauricio Pezo and Sofia von Ellrichshausen. Photography: Ana Crovetto / © Pezo von Ellrichshausen.} Pezo von Ellrichshausen was founded in 2002 by Mauricio Pezo (b.1973) and Sofia von Ellrichshausen (b.1976) in Concepción, Chile. Their work lies at the crossroads between art and architecture with a portfolio that includes installations and houses in Chile, USA, Portugal and Spain. Their best known works are the Poli house in Coliumo, Chile (2005) and their home and studio the Cien house in Concepción, Chile (2011).

_{Architect Eduardo Souto de Moura. Photo © Leonel de Castro.} Eduardo Souto de Moura (b.1952, Porto, Portugal) worked for Álvaro Siza as a student before setting up his own practice upon graduation. Timeless buildings like the Paula Rêgo Museum, Cascais, Portugal (2009) and the Braga Stadium, Portugal (2004) have won great acclaim for the architect. He received the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2011.

_{Architect Álvaro Siza. Photo © Chiara Porcu.} Álvaro Siza (b.1933, Matosinho, Portugal) has worked internationally but is best known for his buildings in Portugal including the Boa Nova Teahouse (1963), the SAAL Bouça Housing estate (1977) and the Church of Macro de Canaveses (1996). He received the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1992, considered the highest distinction in architecture.