The 2026 WLA Student Awards received over 130 Entries from more than 20 countries worldwide. The projects were submitted by students and academics from some of the world’s most prestigious university programs. With only three categories, the jurors had difficulty selecting a shortlist of high-quality projects by current and graduating students.
Jury
Yadan Luo
Lecturer, Landscape Architecture Department, Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania and Associate Director, Future Cities Initiative, Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania Creative Director, YH LAB
Dr Anastasia Nikologianni
Research Fellow at Birmingham City University. Director of the Young Landscape Architects and Emerging Professionals IFLA World
Dr. Maj Plemenitas
Founder of Linkscale and Amphibious Lab. Academic appointments at RMIT LA and UCL Bartlett include Associate Professorship and co-Directorship of the MA/MLA Landscape Architecture programs (UCL).
Professor Stefan Tischer
Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Sassari in Sardinia and Aga Khan Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of Design GSD at Harvard University (2023-2024), and Landscape Architect
Student Awards
The following winners were selected from the shortlisted entries as the winners of the 2026 WLA Student Awards.
Concept Design
Award of Excellence
Fluid Itineraries: Rewetting Hobrec
Hanrui (Freya) Fu – Harvard Graduate School of Design
Supervisors: Chris Reed & Laila Seewang – Harvard Graduate School of Design
Jury Comments
The proposal demonstrates an extraordinary ability to translate complex ecological and hydrological systems into elegant spatial experiences. Its powerful visualizations, thoughtful sequencing of landscapes, and strong design vision create a compelling model for how infrastructure can become both environmental process and public experience.
Very powerful graphics and well thought-through project. Lots of attention and detail.
Outstanding Award
Keep Carpet Dusty
Sabrina HoiYan Young & Nils Hayoz (ETH Zurich)
Supervisor: Martina Voser (ETH Zurich)
Promenade Sylvatica
Hanrui (Freya) Fu – Harvard Graduate School of Design
Supervisor: Anita Berrizbeitia – Harvard Graduate School of Design
Honourable Mention
Jump into the River
党方红 – 天津美术学院 | Supervisor孙奎利 – 天津美术学院
石珏玮 – 天津大学 | Supervisor 张春彦 – 天津大学
张永欣 – 山东建筑大学 | Supervisor 王越 – 山东建筑大学
Supervisor 郭哲良 – 华南理工大学
Water As Calender
Chutong Liu – Harvard Graduate School of Design
Supervisors: Jungyoon Kim, Shunsaku Miyagi – Harvard Graduate School of Design
Graduate
Award of Excellence
Cle(an/p)sydra: Civic Water Cycles
Mu He and Zhiming (Zenith) Zhang – Harvard Graduate School of Design
Supervisors: Chris Reed & Laila Seewang – Harvard Graduate School of Design, Stoss
Jury Comments
The project is deeply connected to its community and context, with a sharp reading of the site’s social and ecological conditions. The three ideas of Reviving, Cultivating, and Nourishing are clear and effective, successfully linking water infrastructure, ecological repair, and public life. The proposal is both imaginative and grounded, and the visualizations are stunning, helping communicate the concept with great clarity and atmosphere.
The cycle idea works well and shows how it links to the project and the water element.
Mu He and Zhiming (Zenith) Zhang – Harvard Graduate School of Design
Outstanding Award
Between Utopia and Rust
Ammu Anitha Muraleedharan, Vidula Dinesh – Politecnico di Milano
Supervisor: Sara Protasoni – Politecnico di Milano
Ecological Firebreak
Aneena Jose – University College London
Supervisor: Günther Galligioni, Christina Geros, Technical Supervisor – Vladimir Guculak;
Honourable Mention
Oyster Islands, Living Seas
Qiwen Xiong & Ye Zhang, Zeyu Cao – Beijing Forestry University; Yike Wu – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich; Yuxuan Cai – University of Chicago;
Advisors: Peng Yao; Ying Luo;
Topography of Aqua-Succession
Angelika Duda – Cracow University of Technology
Supervisor: Katarzyna Łakomy – Cracow University of Technology
University Studio
Award of Excellence
Becoming Birds: Iceland Coexistence – Agricultural University of Iceland
Supervisors: Ivan Juarez and Helena Guttormsdóttir – Agricultural University of Iceland
Jury Comments
The studio presents a very inspiring framework for rethinking coexistence between humans, birds, and fragile ecological systems. Its core idea is strong: to consider humans as one species among many, and to use the perspective of birds as a way to read, map, and redesign the landscape.
The project is especially successful in working across different scales, from the body and sensory experience to migration routes, habitats, and larger ecological systems. The process is thoughtful, collective, and deeply connected to place.
The visualizations and structure are elegant and powerful. Overall, this is a highly inspiring studio that expands how landscape architecture can engage with biodiversity, empathy, and environmental care.
The concept and idea are really good, and it contributes to our profession.
Becoming Birds: Iceland Coexistence – Agricultural University of Iceland
Outstanding Award
Dynamics & Encounters – University of Hong Kong
Supervisors: Francisco Cevallos Barragan, William Shivers, PhD, Ivan Valin – University of Hong Kong
Urban Landscape Futures – CEPT University
Tutors: Mansi Shah and Vaishal Patel – CEPT University
Teaching Assistant: Lopamudra Baruah – CEPT University
Honourable Mention
Politics of Conservation – The National University of Singapore
Supervisor: Xiaoxuan Lu
Digital [PDF] certificates will be issued over the coming week to winners and finalists.