Nat Barker, features editor at Dezeen Magazine, has been awarded the prestigious Architectural Journalist of the Year title at the International Building Press Awards 2025. The award ceremony, held in central London last week, recognized Barker for his exceptional "depth and craft in storytelling" throughout his varied body of work over the past year.
The judges praised Barker's comprehensive approach to architectural journalism, stating that "Nat won this category because of his excellent and varied work, which showed depth and craft in storytelling throughout." This recognition marks the second consecutive year that Dezeen has claimed the International Building Press (IBP) Architectural Journalist of the Year award, with editor Tom Ravenscroft having received the honor in 2024.
Barker's award-winning portfolio included several standout pieces that demonstrated both journalistic rigor and compelling narrative structure. His comprehensive survey of employment issues within the design and architecture industry was particularly noted by judges as "a thorough piece of research that had taken several months and resulted in record levels of engagement." This investigative piece shed light on systemic problems affecting professionals across the architectural field.
Another significant work that contributed to Barker's recognition was his thoughtful opinion piece examining the role of the lead architect in the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The judges described this as "the most moving piece that the judges read in this category," noting that "the comment piece on Grenfell could only have been written by somebody with great knowledge of the tragedy." This piece demonstrated Barker's ability to tackle sensitive and complex topics with both expertise and compassion.
Additionally, Barker authored an in-depth feature exploring how Norman Foster became one of history's most successful architects. The judges appreciated this piece for its balanced approach, commenting that "his appreciation of Norman Foster aligned with reader interest in his legacy and impact, and although the piece is largely positive, it was seen as a balanced telling of his career."
This latest accolade adds to a successful year for Dezeen's editorial team. Earlier in 2025, design and environment editor Jennifer Hahn was named Young Arts Journalist of the Year at the Chartered Institute of Journalists' inaugural Young Journalist Awards. The publication's Dezeen Awards program also received recognition, earning two accolades at the Awards Awards 2025, including being named event of the year.
The International Building Press Awards represent one of the most respected honors in architectural journalism, recognizing excellence in coverage of the built environment industry. Barker's win underscores Dezeen's continued influence and quality in architectural media, establishing the publication as a leading voice in contemporary design journalism.
