Derry Ainsworth wins the 2026 Architecture MasterPrize - named Photographer of The Year for his 'Hong Kong Modern Mosaics' series.
Derry Ainsworth Named Photographer of the Year at the Architecture MasterPrize 2026
Hong Kong-based architectural photographer and visual artist Derry Ainsworth has officially been named the Exterior Architecture Photographer of the Year at the 2026 Architecture MasterPrize (AMP).
Taking home the highest photography honour of this year's competition for his series Hong Kong Modern Mosaics marks a major career milestone. In addition to the main title, Ainsworth’s second submitted series, Dragon Gates of Hong Kong, was honored with a win in the Residential Exterior category. Having transitioned from working in the architectural sector to dedicating over a decade to capturing the built environment through a lens, receiving this dual recognition on a global stage is a defining achievement in his artistic journey.
A Global Stage: The Architecture MasterPrize
The Architecture MasterPrize is widely regarded as one of the most respected and comprehensive global awards in the industry. Its mission is to advance the appreciation and exposure of quality architectural design and photography worldwide, celebrating creativity and innovation across architectural design, interior design, landscape architecture, product design, and architectural photography.
Over the years, the AMP has honored some of the most legendary names in the history of modern architecture, including Zaha Hadid Architects, Tadao Ando, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Kengo Kuma, Snøhetta, and Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).
The 2026 edition was extraordinarily competitive, attracting thousands of submissions from established studios, visionary designers, and talented photographers spanning 95 countries. Every entry is rigorously evaluated by an esteemed international jury composed of leading architects, academics, curators, and media professionals. To have Ainsworth's work selected at the very top of such a vast and talented international pool of creatives underscores the impact of his distinct visual style. The Winning Series: Hong Kong Modern Mosaics
The Photographer of the Year title was awarded for Ainsworth's ongoing series, Hong Kong Modern Mosaics. Having lived and worked in Hong Kong for years, Ainsworth is constantly looking for new ways to interpret the city's famous skyline and push beyond standard, familiar views.
Hong Kong Modern Mosaics explores the dizzying verticality of the city through a hyper-focused lens. By isolating tight frames of contemporary facades and utilizing elevated aerial photography perspectives, this series transforms colossal skyscrapers into intricate geometric tapestries. One of the cornerstone pieces of the collection, for instance, examines the rich, layered facades of Tai Kwun, designed by Herzog & de Meuron.
When street-level context is stripped away, the relentless repetition of windows, mullions, and structural grids reveals a hidden rhythm within the urban density. These images were created to celebrate the mesmerizing symmetry and abstract patterns born from extreme architectural efficiency, turning towering glass and steel monoliths into striking, flattened mosaics of modern life. Ainsworth's goal was to capture the city's unique urban tapestry through his own perspective, showcasing what makes Hong Kong such an extraordinary and endless canvas to photograph.
https://architectureprize.com/winners/winner.php?id=10327
Jardine House - designed by Palmer & Turner Lippo Centre designed by Paul Rudolph for Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd Tai Kwun facade designed by Herzog De Meuron Kai Tak Sports Park designed by Populous Limited and Arup The Henderson designed by Zaha Hadid St. Regis Hong Kong Facade designed by DLN Bank of China Tower designed by I.M. Pei East Kowloon Cultural Centre Taikoo Place Lippo Centre designed by Paul Rudolph for Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd Mandarin Oriental The Landmark designed by Neri&Hu Landmark The Murray faced designed by Ron Phillips and redeveloped by Foster + Partners Lippo Centre designed by Paul Rudolph for Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd IGC designed by Zaha Hadid Architects Bank of China Tower designed by I.M. Pei IGC designed by Zaha Hadid Architects Bank of China Tower designed by I.M. Pei Tai Kwun facade designed by Herzog De Meuron IGC designed by Zaha Hadid Architects Landmark Hopewell Centre Lippo Centre designed by Paul Rudolph for Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd IGC designed by Zaha Hadid Architects The Henderson designed by Zaha Hadid The Murray faced designed by Ron Phillips and redeveloped by Foster + Partners
Honouring Heritage and Design: Dragon Gates of Hong Kong
Alongside the top title, a second body of Ainsworth's work was recognized by the jury, with Dragon Gates of Hong Kong named a Winner in the Residential Exterior category.
While Modern Mosaics examines the abstract geometry of contemporary glass and steel, Dragon Gates of Hong Kongexplores a unique architectural feature that defines the city's coastal skyline through the lens of tradition and belief. Known locally as lung mun (龍門), these intentional architectural voids and cutouts are built directly into coastal high-rises so that spirit dragons can fly unimpeded from the mountains down to the sea, ensuring positive energy and good fortune for the surrounding community.
This series highlights the fascinating intersection of ancient Feng Shui culture and modern structural engineering. By using these massive architectural voids as natural frames for dynamic scenes, such as in the piece Containment, which captures a massive container ship passing directly through the Dragon Gate of the Norman Foster and Wong Tung & Partners-designed Residence Bel-Air, the photographs contrast the overwhelming, dense mass of Hong Kong's residential towers with the serene, open vistas of the sea and mountains behind them.
https://architectureprize.com/winners/winner.php?id=10324
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Next Stop: The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain
On Tuesday, November 24, 2026, Ainsworth will travel to Bilbao, Spain, to accept the trophy in person at the official Architecture MasterPrize Winners Gala.
Presented in partnership with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, the biennial ceremony takes place inside the iconic Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, designed by Frank Gehry. Standing inside one of the most recognizable pieces of contemporary architecture in the world to receive this award alongside the 2025 and 2026 laureates promises to be an unforgettable evening, celebrating the intersection of global architecture and visual art along the Nervión River.
Explore the official Architecture MasterPrize winner profiles for both Hong Kong Modern Mosaics and Dragon Gates of Hong Kong on the AMP website, and stay tuned for updates from the gala in Spain next month. #hongkong #architecturemasterprize #award #derryainsworth #cities #architecture #competition
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