The Pritzker Prize is widely regarded as the most prestigious award in the world of architecture. Founded in 1979 by the Pritzker family of Chicago, the award recognizes architects from around the world who have made significant contributions to the field of architecture and whose work has demonstrated a combination of talent, vision, and commitment to architectural excellence.
Since its inception, the Pritzker Prize has been awarded to some of the world’s most influential and innovative architects, from modernist pioneers to contemporary visionaries. In this third and final blog in this series of three, we will look at the latest Pritzker Prize winners to date, whose skill and creativity have left an indelible mark on the world of architecture.
Jean Nouvel
He is a French architect born in 1945 in Fumel, France. He studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Bordeaux and later worked for several notable architects, including Claude Parent and Paul Virilio.
Nouvel is known for his innovative and risk-taking approach to architecture, and has designed landmark buildings around the world, including the Agbar Tower in Barcelona, the Arab World Institute in Paris and the Qatar National Museum in Doha.
In 2008, Nouvel received the Pritzker Prize for his “unique architectural vision, which is based on experimentation, research and collaboration with other creative fields”.
In addition to his work in architecture, Nouvel is an advocate for sustainability and has worked on projects to promote the preservation of cultural and architectural heritage around the world. His work has been recognized for his contribution to urban design and his ability to combine form and function in a unique and surprising way.
Peter Zumthor
He is a Swiss architect born in 1943 in Basel, Switzerland. He studied design at the Basel School of Art and Design and architecture at Pratt Institute in New York.
He is known for his minimalist and careful approach to architecture and attention to detail in every aspect of his work. Some of his best known works include the Vals Thermal Baths in Switzerland, the Kolumba Museum in Colonia, Germany, and the Bruder Klaus Chapel in Germany.
In 2009, Zumthor received the Pritzker Prize for his “intense and personal approach to architectural design, which focuses on creating buildings and spaces that evoke an emotional response in the user”.
In addition to his work in architecture, Zumthor is a leading teacher and writer in his field, and has influenced many young architects around the world with his design philosophy.
Kazuyo Sejima y Ryue Nishizawa
They are two Japanese architects who founded the architectural firm SANAA in 1995 in Tokyo, Japan. Both have a long history in architecture before joining forces and working together at SANAA.
Since its founding, SANAA has created numerous internationally acclaimed architectural projects, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, Glass Pavilion at the Museum of Art in Toledo, the School of Fine Arts at Kanazawa University and the cultural center De Kunstlinie, Almere.
In 2010, Sejima and Nishizawa received the Pritzker Prize for their work on SANAA. The jury noted their ability to create buildings with a strong sculptural presence that are both practical and functional, and their commitment to sustainability and design innovation.
SANAA has continued to work on major projects around the world, including the Rolex Learning Center at EPFL and the Grace Farms Cultural Center in Connecticut.
Eduardo Souto de Moura
He is a Portuguese architect born in Oporto in 1952. He studied at the School of Fine Arts in Oporto, where he also worked as a teacher. After graduating, he worked with the architect Alvaro Siza, who was a key influence in his career.
In 1980, he founded his own studio in Oporto, which has designed a wide variety of projects, including houses, public buildings, museums and urban spaces. His work is characterized by great attention to detail, the use of natural materials and a strong connection to place and history.
In 2011, Souto de Moura was awarded the Pritzker Prize for lifetime achievement in architecture. The jury highlighted his ability to create buildings that blend harmoniously into their surroundings, his commitment to sustainability and his ability to combine a contemporary aesthetic with traditional elements.
Among his most outstanding works are the Braga Municipal Stadium, the Casa das Historias Paula Rego in Cascais, the Paula Rego Museum in Portugal, and the Leixoes Cruise Terminal. In addition, he has been a professor at several universities around the world and has been invited to lecture at numerous architectural events.
Wang Shu
He is a Chinese architect born in 1963 in Urumqi, Xinjiang. He graduated from Nanjing University School of Architecture in 1985 and founded Amateur Architecture Studio with his wife, Lu Wenyu, in 1997. His work is characterized by the reinterpretation of Chinese architectural traditions and the use of local materials and traditional construction techniques.
In 2012, Wang Shu was awarded the Pritzker Prize for his work in architecture. The jury highlighted his ability to integrate history, culture and innovation into his work and his commitment to sustainability and building with local materials. It also noted his focus on the relationship between buildings and their surroundings, and his emphasis on quality and craftsmanship in construction.
Among his most notable works are the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, the Ningbo Museum of Contemporary Art in Ningbo, and the Wenzheng University Library in Hangzhou. In addition, he has taught at several universities in China and abroad and has been invited to lecture at numerous architectural events.
Toyo Ito
He is a Japanese architect born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1941. He graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1965 and founded his own studio, Urban Robot (now called Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects), in 1971. His work is characterized by the use of advanced technology and organic, fluid forms that seek to create a dialogue between built space and the environment.
In 2013, Ito was awarded the Pritzker Prize for his work in architecture. The jury highlighted his ability to create buildings that transcend the boundaries of architecture and explore themes such as nature, technology, society and culture. It also noted his focus on sustainability and his commitment to social responsibility.
Among his most notable works are the Sendai Mediatheque in Miyagi, the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London and the Taichung Metropolitan Opera House building in Taiwan. In addition, he has taught at several universities in Japan and abroad and has been invited to lecture at numerous architectural events.
Shigeru Ban
He is a Japanese architect born in Tokyo in 1957. He graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1984 and subsequently moved to the United States to study at the Southern California Institute of Architecture and the Cooper Union School of Architecture in New York. He is known for his innovative use of unconventional materials, such as cardboard tubes, to create temporary and permanent structures.
In 2014, Ban received the Pritzker Prize for his work in architecture. The jury highlighted his ability to create ingenious and practical solutions to architectural and humanitarian problems around the world. It also noted his focus on sustainability and commitment to social responsibility.
Among his most notable works are the Japanese Pavilion at the Hannover World Expo in 2000, the Cardboard Cathedral in Kobe, Japan in 1995 and the Pompidou-Metz Center in France in 2010. In addition to his career in architecture, Ban has been an active advocate for humanitarian aid and has worked on projects to provide temporary housing for victims of natural disasters and refugees around the world.
Frei Otto
He was a German architect and designer born in 1925 in Siegmar, Germany. He was one of the pioneers in the field of sustainable architecture and bio-construction, and is known for his innovative designs in tensile structures and lightweight materials.
Among his most outstanding works are the German Pavilion at the Universal Exposition in Montreal in 1967, the Olympic Stadium in Munich in 1972 and the Japanese Pavilion at the Universal Exposition in Seville in 1992. His designs were inspired by nature and his commitment to sustainability and ecology.
In 2015, Frei Otto was posthumously awarded the Pritzker Prize for his work in architecture. He passed away in 2015 at the age of 89, before he was awarded the prize. The prize jury noted his ability to fuse technology and beauty, and his commitment to sustainability and social responsibility in his work.
Alejandro Aravena
He is a Chilean architect born in 1967 in Santiago, Chile. He is known for his work in social and affordable housing projects, and his focus on participatory design and sustainability.
His most notable works include the Quinta Monroy social housing project in Iquique, Chile, the Siamese Building in Santiago, Chile, and the Olympic Village urban renewal project in Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympic Games.
In 2016, Alejandro Aravena received the Pritzker Prize for his work in architecture and urban design. The prize jury highlighted his commitment to improving people’s quality of life through design, his ability to address social problems, and his focus on participatory design and sustainability.
In addition to his work in architecture, Aravena is a professor at the School of Architecture at the Catholic University of Chile and was the curator of the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2016.
RCR Arquitectes
It is a Spanish architectural firm founded in 1988 in Olot by Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta. The three met at the Escuela Tecnica Superior de Arquitectura del Valles and since then have worked together on projects of various scales and types.
One of RCR’s first outstanding projects was the remodeling of the Barberí Space in Olot, which earned them the FAD Architecture Award in 1995. Since then, the studio has carried out numerous architectural, landscape and urban design projects, with a focus on the careful integration of architecture with the landscape and the exploration of materials and textures.
In 2011, the firm completed the Sant Antoni-Joan Oliver Library in Barcelona, which became an urban and cultural landmark in the city and received the FAD Architecture Award in 2017. Other notable projects include Les Cols restaurant in Olot, the Hofheide Crematorium in Belgium, the Cel Obert Space in Ullastret, and the Catalonia Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
In 2013, RCR was awarded the National Culture Award of Catalonia, and in 2017, the studio received the Pritzker Prize for its “collaborative and engaged approach to place and landscape.” In its acceptance speech, the jury praised the “poetry that emanates from its works” and the “connection between time and place, architecture and landscape”.
RCR Arquitectes is a firm that is still active and whose work has been widely recognized and exhibited around the world, with projects in Spain, Belgium, France, China and other countries.
Balkrishna Doshi
Born in Pune, India in 1927, he is an Indian architect, urban planner and educator. Doshi worked with modernist architect Le Corbusier in Paris and India before founding his own firm, Vastu-Shilpa, in 1955.
Doshi is known for his humanistic approach to architecture, which integrates Indian tradition with modernity. His work is characterized by the use of natural materials, simple geometric forms, and an environmental sensibility.
In 2018, Doshi received the Pritzker Prize for his innovative work and dedication to teaching architecture in India. His work includes numerous residential and urban planning projects, as well as landmark buildings such as the Indian Institute of Technology, the Ahmedabad Museum of Art and Design, and the University of Hyderabad.
Doshi has been recognized for his commitment to education and the training of new generations of architects in India, and his work has been acclaimed for his ability to unite culture and modernity in his architecture.
Arata Isozaki
He is a Japanese architect born in 1931 in the city of Oita. He graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1954 and began working in the office of Kenzo Tange, one of Japan’s most influential architects. In 1963, Isozaki founded his own architectural office in Tokyo and has since designed numerous iconic buildings around the world.
Isozaki is known for his innovative and avant-garde approach to architecture, combining modern technology with traditional Japanese principles. Some of his most notable buildings include the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, the Fujimi Building in Tokyo and the Kyoto International Conference Center.
In 2019, Isozaki was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize for his outstanding career of more than 50 years, in which he has been a visionary leader and pioneer in international architecture.
Grafton Architects
It is an architectural firm based in Dublin, Ireland, founded by architects Shelley McNamara and Yvonne Farrell in 1978. Their work is characterized by attention to context and the relationship between the building and its surroundings, as well as the use of sustainable materials and innovative construction techniques.
Her most notable works include the University of Limerick Medical School, the Bocconi University building in Milan, and the University of Engineering and Technology in Lima. In 2020, Grafton Architects received the prestigious Pritzker Prize, becoming the fourth woman to win this recognition alone. In addition, both architects were awarded the RIBA Gold Medal in 2020, the highest honor bestowed by the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Anne Lacaton y Jean-Philippe Vassal
They are a pair of French architects known for their innovative and sustainable approach to the design of housing and public spaces. The two founded their firm, Lacaton & Vassal, in 1987 and have since won numerous awards and recognitions for their work.
One of their most prominent projects is the renovation of the “Tour Bois-le-Pretre” residential complex in Paris, where they managed to improve the living conditions of the residents without the need to demolish and reconstruct the building. They are also known for their work on the French pavilion at Expo 2000 in Hannover and for the design of the Copenhagen Philharmonic.
In 2021, Lacaton and Vassal were awarded the Pritzker Prize for their humane and sustainable approach to building design and for their commitment to improving people’s living conditions through architecture.
Diebedo Francis Kere
He is an architect born in Burkina Faso in 1965. He trained in Berlin and founded his firm in 2005, based in Berlin and Gando (Burkina Faso). His work focuses on sustainability and the use of local materials and traditional building techniques.
In 2017, he received the Marcus Award, which recognizes exceptional architects who have “produced inspiring work that combines great aesthetics with social, cultural and ethical values”. He has also been recognized with the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, the BSI Swiss Architectural Award, and the Royal Institute of British Architects Gold Medal.
One of his most notable projects is the Gando Primary School in Burkina Faso, which he built with the active participation of the local community and using traditional construction techniques. The project has been praised for its sustainable design and its focus on education and community development.
David Chipperfield
He is a British architect known for his minimalist style and his focus on the quality of light and materials in his designs. Born in London in 1953, Chipperfield studied at the city’s Architectural Association before working with architects such as Douglas Stephen, Richard Rogers and Norman Foster.
In 1985, Chipperfield established his own architectural firm, David Chipperfield Architects, which has worked on projects around the world, from the reconstruction of the Neues Museum in Berlin to the design of the Bryant Park residential complex in New York.
Among Chipperfield’s most notable projects are the Museo Jumex in Mexico City, the restoration of the Royal Academy of Arts in London and the renovation of the Sanatorium Dr. Barner cultural complex in Germany.
Chipperfield has received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including the Royal Institute of British Architects Gold Medal and the Mies van der Rohe Award. In 2023, he became the winner of the Pritzker Prize, considered the most prestigious award in architecture worldwide.
Throughout his career, Chipperfield has demonstrated his commitment to sustainable design and the preservation of architectural heritage, as well as his ability to create elegant and functional spaces that enhance people’s quality of life.
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