Pritzker Prize, Winner, Global Architecture Award, Architects, Designer, Jury, News

Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate : Winner

Toyo Ito - International Architect Award - Results through the Years

17+ 18 Mar 2013 Pritzker Architecture Prize 2013 Pritzker Prize Winner 2013 The 2013 Pritzker Architecture Prize winner is Toyo Ito of Japan Los Angeles, CA—Toyo Ito, a 71 year old architect whose architectural practice is based in Tokyo, Japan, will be the recipient of the 2013 Pritzker Architecture Prize, it was announced today by Thomas J. Pritzker, chairman of The Hyatt Foundation which sponsors the prize. Ito is the sixth Japanese architect to become a Pritzker Laureate -- the first five being the late Kenzo Tange in 1987, Fumihiko Maki in 1993, Tadao Ando in 1995, and the team of Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa in 2010. Toyo Ito architect: photos courtesy of Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects The formal ceremony for what has come to be known throughout the world as architecture’s highest honor will be at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts on Wednesday, May 29. This marks the first time the ceremony has been held in Boston, and the location has particular significance since it was designed by another Pritzker Laureate, Ieoh Ming Pei who received the prize in 1983. photo : Yoshiaki Tsutsui In making the announcement, Pritzker elaborated, “We are particularly pleased to be holding our ceremony at the Kennedy Library, and it is even more significant because the date is John F. Kennedy’s birthday.” Pritzker Architecture Prize : Citation for 2013 - Toyo Ito The purpose of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which was founded in 1979 by the late Jay A. Pritzker and his wife, Cindy, is to honor annually a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture. The laureates receive a $100,000 grant and a bronze medallion. Pritzker Prize jury chairman, The Lord Palumbo, spoke from his home in the United Kingdom, quoting from the jury citation that focuses on the reasons for this year’s choice: “Throughout his career, Toyo Ito has been able to produce a body of work that combines conceptual innovation with superbly executed buildings. Creating outstanding architecture for more than 40 years, he has successfully undertaken libraries, houses, parks, theaters, shops, office buildings and pavilions, each time seeking to extend the possibilities of architecture. A professional of unique talent, he is dedicated to the process of discovery that comes from seeing the opportunities that lie in each commission and each site.” Toyo Ito 31 May 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize Ceremony 2012 Beijing Ceremony for Pritzker Prize to Wang Shu Wang Shu of the People’s Republic of China Awarded the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Thomas J. Pritzker, chairman of The Hyatt Foundation presented the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize to Wang Shu, the first architect from the People’s Republic of China to receive what is considered architecture’s most prestigious award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This thirty-fourth annual ceremony which moves around the world each year, took place on 25 May. Renowned as the “the Nobel of architecture” the official ceremony was hosted for the first time in China since the prize was founded in 1979. photos from ceremony On the dais for the presentation were Chinese government dignitaries, including His Excellency Li Keqiang, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China; His Excellency Liu Qi, Secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee; Mr. Jiang Weixin, Minister of the Housing and Urban-Rural Development; Mr You Quan, Deputy Secretary of the State Council; and Mr Guo Jinlong, Mayor of Beijing. “Hosting the Ceremony at the Great Hall of the People is significant, not just to China, but also to the world,” said Thomas J Pritzker. “This prize ceremony has taken place in many places around the world, including the White House in Washington DC, a public square in Rome that was designed by Michelangelo, by the Wall of the Second Temple in Jerusalem; and an ancient Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. I first visited China in 1976, so I have had the great privilege of witnessing its evolution over the last three decades. Like this Hall, China’s evolution has been about its people and that is what enlightened architecture is also about.” The official ceremony granting the award takes place every year at an architecturally significant site throughout the world paying homage to the architecture of other eras and/or works by previous laureates of the prize. The choice of location of the ceremony reinforces the importance of the built environment while providing a unique setting for the ceremony. Since the ceremony locations are usually chosen each year long before the laureate is selected, there is no direct relationship between the honoree and the ceremony venue. This year is the third time in the prize history that an international location coincides with the chosen laureate’s home nation. The two prior coincidences were in 1990 when the late Aldo Rossi of Italy was the honoree and the ceremony was held in Venice; and again in 2007, British architect Richard Rogers was the laureate and the ceremony was held in London. Thomas J Pritzker further elaborates, “This ceremony goes beyond our expectations. We celebrate one of China’s own sons as great and world-class architect. By honoring Wang Shu, we honor not only a man, but we also honor a country and a culture that was able to foster an architect of such skill, intellect and vision. Wang was born here, educated here and this is where he has turned his ideas, energy and effort into buildings that serve their communities.” “In the last twenty years, the world has been enriched by China’s remarkable progression of success in commerce and industry.” Lord Palumbo, chairman of the Pritzker Prize jury said during the jury citation. “This rate-of-change can only be described as phenomenal. The vitality of the economy has found expression in architecture. With an entirely healthy but burning ambition, China has become an architectural laboratory for the world and consequently the most competitive market in the world for those who design buildings. This competitive activity is stimulating the creation of a new Chinese architecture that respects tradition and locality, but that also recognizes and responds to the urgency of current needs.” Lord Palumbo further explained, “This is a difficult balance to achieve, but in the works of Wang Shu the jury saw the emergence for the first time of truly authentic contemporary Chinese architecture; for here are buildings of compelling originality that not only address the future but also draw meaning and value from the past. If the architecture of Wang Shu is rooted in China’s long and honorable tradition, culture, and locality, it also sends important signals to the rest of the world as a result of his distinctive architectural language that speaks to everyone. For all these reasons, Wang Shu is a worthy Laureate of the world’s most prestigious architectural accolade. We also believe that he will be the first, but by no means that last in a line of great contemporary Chinese architects.” In accepting the Pritzker Prize, Wang Shu said, “Winning this award is something unexpected. For many years, I have been pursuing my dream on a lonely course. Before this, I had never published any architectural design collection or designed any buildings outside of China. I always see myself as an amateur architect, so it is absolutely a huge pleasant surprise to receive this honor. I wish to thank the judges for their insight and fair comments. This award is of special importance for the Chinese architectural industry. As a young architect, I have to say that I owe this award to the age we now live in. It is in this golden age that China has achieved unprecedented prosperity and openness, giving me so many opportunities for making difficult architectural experiments in such a short span of time. Here, I wish to thank my partner Lu Wenyu and all my friends who have helped me before.” Wang Shu further explained, “I always say that I am not just designing a building, but a world of diversity and difference and a path that leads us back to the nature. These are the questions I was asking myself when I got to know that I was given the award, and these are the questions I will continue to focus on in my future endeavors.” 27 Feb 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize Winner News WANG SHU NAMED 2012 PRITZKER PRIZE WINNER Zhu Chenzhou Wang Shu, a 48 year old architect whose architectural practice is based in Hangzhou, The People’s Republic of China, will be the recipient of the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize. Jury Chair Lord Palumbo, stated, "Wang Shu’s oeuvre, seen in depth by the jurors during a visit to China, left no doubt that we were witnessing the work of a master; and a unanimous decision to award him the Pritzker Prize for 2012 is one that we feel places him at the same high level of distinction as the other Chinese architect to receive the award, I M Pei." Wang Shu Wang Shu of The People’s Republic of China Is the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Los Angeles, CA - Wang Shu, a 48 year old architect whose architectural practice is based in Hangzhou, The People’s Republic of China, will be the recipient of the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize, it was announced today by Thomas J. Pritzker, chairman of The Hyatt Foundation which sponsors the prize. The formal ceremony for what has come to be known throughout the world as architecture’s highest honor will be in Beijing on May 25. In announcing the jury’s choice, Pritzker elaborated, “The fact that an architect from China has been selected by the jury, represents a significant step in acknowledging the role that China will play in the development of architectural ideals. In addition, over the coming decades China’s success at urbanization will be important to China and to the world. This urbanization, like urbanization around the world, needs to be in harmony with local needs and culture. China’s unprecedented opportunities for urban planning and design will want to be in harmony with both its long and unique traditions of the past and with its future needs for sustainable development.” Library of Wenzheng College, Suzhou, China 1999-2000 photo by Lu Wenyu, Courtesy of Amateur Architecture Studio The purpose of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which was founded in 1979 by the late Jay A. Pritzker and his wife, Cindy, is to honor annually a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture. The laureates receive a $100,000 grant and a bronze medallion. Pritzker Prize jury chairman, The Lord Palumbo, spoke from his home in the United Kingdom, quoting from the jury citation that focuses on the reasons for this year’s choice: “The question of the proper relation of present to past is particularly timely, for the recent process of urbanization in China invites debate as to whether architecture should be anchored in tradition or should look only toward the future. As with any great architecture, Wang Shu´s work is able to transcend that debate, producing an architecture that is timeless, deeply rooted in its context and yet universal.” Wang earned his first degree in architecture at the Nanjing Institute of Technology, Department of Architecture in 1985. Three years later, he received his Masters Degree at the same institute. When he first graduated from school, he went to work for the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts in Hangzhou doing research on the environment and architecture in relation to the renovation of old buildings. Nearly a year later, he was at work on his first architectural project – the design of a 3600 square meter Youth Center for the small town of Haining (near Hangzhou). It was completed in 1990. photo © 2012 The Hyatt Foundation For nearly all of the next ten years, he worked with craftsmen to gain experience at actual building and have no responsibility for design. In 1997, Wang Shu and his wife, Lu Wenyu, founded their professional practice in Hangzhou, naming it “Amateur Architecture Studio.” He explains the name, “For myself, being an artisan or a craftsman, is an amateur or almost the same thing.” His interpretation of the word is relatively close to one of the unabridged dictionary’s definitions: “a person who engages in a study, sport or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons”. In Wang Shu’s interpretation, the word “pleasure” might well be replaced by “love of the work”. By the year 2000, he had completed his first major project, the Library of Wenzheng College at Suzhou University. In keeping with his philosophy of paying scrupulous attention to the environment, and with careful consideration of traditions of Suzhou gardening which suggests that buildings located between water and mountains should not be prominent, he designed the library with nearly half of the building underground. Also, four additional buildings are much smaller than the main body. In 2004, the library received the Architecture Art Award of China. Ningbo Contemporary Art Museum, Ningbo, China 2001-05 photo by Lv Hengzhong, Courtesy of Amateur Architecture Studio His other major projects completed, all in China, include in 2005, the Ningbo Contemporary Art Museum and five scattered houses in Ningbo which received acknowledgment from the Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction in the Asia Pacific. In that same city, he completed the Ningbo History Museum in 2008. In his native city of Hangzhou, he did the first phase of the Xingshan Campus of the China Academy of Art in 2004, and then completed phase two of the same campus in 2007. True to his methods of the economy of materials, he salvaged over two million tiles from demolished traditional houses to cover the roofs of the campus buildings. That same year in Hangzhou, he built the Vertical Courtyard Apartments, consisting of six 26-storey towers, which was nominated in 2008 for the German based International High-Rise Award. Also finished in 2009 in Hangzhou, was the Exhibition Hall of the Imperial Street of Southern Song Dynasty. In 2006, he completed the Ceramic House in Jinhua. Other international recognition includes the French Gold Medal from the Academy of Architecture in 2011. The year before, both he and his wife, Lu Wenyu, were awarded the German Schelling Architecture Prize. Xiangshan Campus, China Academy of Art, Phase II, Hangzhou, China 2004-07   photos by Lv Hengzhong, Courtesy of Amateur Architecture Studio Since 2000, Wang Shu has been the head of the Architecture Department of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, the institution where he did research on the environment and architecture when he first graduated from school. Last year, he became the first Chinese architect to hold the position of “Kenzo Tange Visiting Professor” at Harvard Graduate School of Design in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is also a frequent visiting lecturer at many universities around the world, including in the United States: UCLA, Harvard, University of Texas, University of Pennsylvania, He has participated in a number of major international exhibitions in Venice, Hong Kong, Brussels, Berlin and Paris. Upon learning that he was being honored, Wang Shu had this reaction: “This is really a big surprise. I am tremendously honored to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize. I suddenly realized that I’ve done many things over the last decade. It proves that earnest hard work and persistence lead to positive outcomes.” The distinguished jury that selected the 2012 Pritzker Laureate consists of its chairman, The Lord Palumbo, internationally known architectural patron of London, chairman of the trustees, Serpentine Gallery, former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain, former chairman of the Tate Gallery Foundation, and former trustee of the Mies van der Rohe Archive at the Museum of Modern Art, New York; and alphabetically: Alejandro Aravena, architect and executive director of Elemental in Santiago, Chile; Stephen Breyer, U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Washington, D.C.; Yung Ho Chang, architect and educator, Beijing, The People’s Republic of China; Zaha Hadid, architect and 2004 Pritzker Laureate; Glenn Murcutt, architect and 2002 Pritzker Laureate of Sydney, Australia; Juhani Pallasmaa, architect, professor and author of Helsinki, Finland; and Karen Stein, writer, editor and architectural consultant in New York. Martha Thorne, associate dean for external relations, IE School of Architecture, Madrid, Spain, is the executive director of the prize. Ningbo History Museum, Ningbo, China 2003-08 photo by Lv Hengzhong, Courtesy of Amateur Architecture Studio In addition to the previous laureates already mentioned, the late Philip Johnson was the first Pritzker Laureate in 1979. The late Luis Barragán of Mexico was named in 1980. The late James Stirling of the United Kingdom was elected in 1981, Kevin Roche in 1982, Ieoh Ming Pei in 1983, and Richard Meier in 1984. Hans Hollein of Austria was the 1985 Laureate. Gottfried Böhm of Germany received the prize in 1986. Robert Venturi received the honor in 1991, and Alvaro Siza of Portugal in 1992. Christian de Portzamparc of France was elected Pritzker Laureate in 1994. Frank Gehry of the United States was the recipient in 1989, the late Aldo Rossi of Italy in 1990. In 1996, Rafael Moneo of Spain was the Laureate; in 1997 the late Sverre Fehn of Norway; in 1998 Renzo Piano of Italy, in 1999 Sir Norman Foster of the UK, and in 2000, Rem Koolhaas of the Netherlands. Australian Glenn Murcutt received the prize in 2002. The late Jørn Utzon of Denmark was honored in 2003; Zaha Hadid of the UK in 2004; and Thom Mayne of the United States in 2005. Paulo Mendes da Rocha of Brazil was the Laureate in 2006, and Richard Rogers received the prize in 2007. Jean Nouvel of France was the Laureate in 2008. In 2009, Peter Zumthor of Switzerland received the award. In 2010, two Japanese architects were honored, partners Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA, Inc. Last year, Eduardo Souto de Moura of Portugal was the laureate. The field of architecture was chosen by the Pritzker family because of their keen interest in building due to their involvement with developing the Hyatt Hotels around the world; and because architecture was a creative endeavor not included in the Nobel Prizes. The procedures were modeled after the Nobels, with the final selection being made by the international jury with all deliberations and voting in secret. Nominations are continuous from year to year with hundreds of nominees from countries all around the world being considered each year. 27 Oct 2011 Pritzker Prize Ceremony - 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize Ceremony Will Be Held in China Next Year The 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize Ceremony will be held in Beijing, China on May 25, 2012, it was disclosed today In a joint announcement by Guo Jinlong, the Mayor of Beijing, China and Thomas J. Pritzker, Chairman of The Hyatt Foundation. Pritzker elaborated, “Over the three decades of prize-giving, we have held ceremonies in fourteen different countries, in venues ranging from the White House in Washington DC to Todai-ji Temple in Nara, Japan. The tradition of moving the event to world sites of architectural significance was established to emphasize that the prize is international, the laureates having been chosen from 16 different nations to date. This will be our 34th event marking the first time we have gone to China.” “It is particularly appropriate that we should go to China because so many of the laureates have projects there, either in work or completed, including one of our earliest laureates, Ieoh Ming Pei, who won the prize in 1983”, Pritzker continued. “ Some of the others include the 2002 Pritzker Laureate from London, Zaha Hadid’s new opera house in Guangzhou; the 2001 laureates Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron of Switzerland who designed Beijing’s National Stadium; Rem Koolhaas of The Netherlands whose projects in China include a Television Cultural Center in Beijing and a Shenzen Stock Exchange; and the1999 Pritzker Laureate Norman Foster who has completed the Hong Kong International Airport as well as the headquarters for the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banks.” Mayor Guo Jinlong said, “The Pritzker Architecture Prize is the most recognized award in the architectural field throughout the world. We believe holding this event in Beijing will further raise the awareness of the Pritzker Prize in China, and promote the development of the architectural industry in Beijing and China as a whole. Hosting the ceremony in Beijing will also attract many globally reputable architecture firms and architects to participate in building Beijing as the most liveable city and famous cultural capital.” Pritzker pointed out that the juries for the prize have always been international as well, and currently has members from China, the United Kingdom, Chile, Australia, Finland and the United States, and in past years had members from Japan, India, Mexico, and Switzerland. The current Pritzker jury now consists of eight people, including its chairman, Lord Palumbo of the United Kingdom, and (alphabetically) Alejandro Aravena from Chile, architect and executive director of Elemental; Stephen Breyer, a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court; Yung Ho Chang, who is an architect and educator from Beijing, China; Zaha Hadid, who is an architect based in London who was the 2004 Pritzker Laureate; Australian architect; Glenn Murcutt who was the 2002 Pritzker Laureate; Juhani Pallasmaa of Finland, who is an architect, professor and author; and Karen Stein, a writer, editor and architectural consultant in the U.S. Martha Thorne, the associate dean for external affairs at the IE School of Architecture in Madrid, Spain, is the executive director. The specific building to be used for the ceremony in Beijing is still under consideration, but the category of the site to be chosen is likely to be of historic significance. In addition to the White House and Todai-ji Temple, past sites have included France’s Palace of Versailles and Grand Trianon; Prague Castle in The Czech Republic. Some of the most beautiful museums in the United States have hosted the event: Chicago’s Art Institute, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Fort Worth’s Kimball Art Museum. This year, one of Washington’s finest classical building, the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium was the ceremony location. The U.S. capital has been the site, in all, five times: once at the Library of Congress and twice at Dumbarton Oaks, and once at the National Gallery of Art’s East Building designed by Pritzker Laureate I.M. Pei, and the already mentioned Mellon Auditorium. Other sites designed by laureates of the Pritzker Prize were Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain and Richard Meier’s Getty Center in Los Angeles. Further plans for guests attending the ceremony in Beijing are being formulated, including seminars, and building tours of the city’s old and new architecture. The Pritzker Architecture Prize was established by The Hyatt Foundation in 1979 to honor annually a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision, and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture. The field of architecture was chosen by the Pritzker family because of their keen interest in buildings due to their involvement with developing the Hyatt Hotels around the world; and because architecture was a creative endeavor not included in the Nobel Prizes. The procedures were modeled after the Nobel Prizes, with the final selection being made by the international jury with all deliberations and voting in secret. Nominations are continuous from year to year with hundreds of nominees from countries all around the world being considered each year. It has often been described by the media as “architecture’s most prestigious award” or as “the Nobel of architecture.” The prize takes its name from the Pritzker family, whose international business interests are headquartered in Chicago. They have long been known for their support of educational, social welfare, scientific, medical and cultural activities. When Jay A. Pritzker, who founded the prize with his wife, Cindy, died on January 23, 1999, his eldest son, Thomas J. Pritzker, became chairman of The Hyatt Foundation. The late Philip Johnson was the first Pritzker Laureate in 1979. The late Luis Barragán of Mexico was named in 1980. The late James Stirling of the United Kingdom was elected in 1981. Laureates since then by year are as follows: (if no country is noted, the laureate is from the United States) Kevin Roche in 1982, Ieoh Ming Pei in 1983, Richard Meier in 1984, Hans Hollein of Austria in 1985, Gottfried Böhm of Germany in 1986, Kenzo Tange of Japan in 1987, in 1988 there were two laureates named: Oscar Niemeyer of Brazil and Gordon Bunshaft, Frank Gehry in 1989, the late Aldo Rossi of Italy in 1990, Robert Venturi in 1991, Alvaro Siza of Portugal in 1992. Christian de Portzamparc of France in 1994, Tadao Ando of Japan in 1995, Rafael Moneo of Spain in 1996, the late Sverre Fehn of Norway; in 1997, Renzo Piano of Italy in 1998, Norman Foster of the UK in 1999, Rem Koolhaas of the Netherlands in 2000, Glenn Murcutt of Australia in 2002, the late Jørn Utzon of Denmark in 2003, Zaha Hadid of the UK in 2004, Thom Mayne in 2005, Paulo Mendes da Rocha of Brazil in 2006, Richard Rogers of the UK in 2007, Jean Nouvel of France in 2008, Peter Zumthor of Switzerland in 2009, partners Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA, Inc. in Japan in 2010, and Eduardo Souto de Moura of Portugal in 2011. 15 Sep 2011 Pritzker Prize Jury Two New Jurors Named to the Pritzker Architecture Prize Jury U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, as well as widely acclaimed Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate, Zaha Hadid of the United Kingdom, will join the jury that selects Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureates, it was announced by Thomas J. Pritzker, Chairman of The Hyatt Foundation which sponsors the prize. In addition to his distinguished career in the law, Justice Breyer has a long history of interest in art and architecture, having authored the foreword to a book titled, “Celebrating The Courthouse: A Guide For Architects, Their Clients, And The Public” in 2006. Further, in 2009, the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies honored him with the first Leonore and Walter H. Annenberg Award for Diplomacy through the Arts at a ceremony where the chairman of the foundation, Jo Carole Lauder, said, “His passion for ensuring that federal buildings — where our country’s democratic principles are upheld — represent modern day thinking and culture is truly admirable. Since the birth of our nation, America’s ever changing democracy has been captured through art and architecture and, thanks to Justice Breyer, this legacy will continue.” Zaha Hadid Zaha Hadid photo : Steve Double Hadid, who received the Pritzker Prize in 2004, has since become one of the world’s busiest architects with projects in numerous countries, including the United States, China, Germany, Spain and Italy. The distinguished architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable, who at the time was a Pritzker juror, said: “Zaha Hadid is one of the most gifted practitioners of the art of architecture today.” With the addition of Breyer and Hadid, the Pritzker jury will now consist of eight people, including its chairman, Lord Palumbo of the United Kingdom, and (alphabetically) Alejandro Aravena from Chile, architect and executive director of Elemental; Yung Ho Chang, who is an architect and educator from Beijing, China, and is currently a professor at MIT; Australian architect Glenn Murcutt who is the 2002 Pritzker Laureate; Juhani Pallasmaa of Finland, who is an architect, professor and author; and Karen Stein, a writer, editor and architectural consultant in the U.S. Martha Thorne, who is the associate dean for external affairs at the IE School of Architecture in Madrid, Spain, is the executive director. In making the announcement, Pritzker stated: “The members of the Pritzker jury are now, and always have been thoughtful, outstanding individuals from diverse backgrounds providing sometimes surprising insight to architectural achievement in our time. Our family is constantly proud and honored that these individuals are willing to give of their time in choosing architects to be singled out for excellence.” The Pritzker Architecture Prize was established by The Hyatt Foundation in 1979 to honor annually a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision, and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture. It has often been described as “architecture’s most prestigious award” or as “the Nobel of architecture.” The prize takes its name from the Pritzker family, whose international business interests are headquartered in Chicago. They have long been known for their support of educational, social welfare, scientific, medical and cultural activities. Jay A. Pritzker, who founded the prize with his wife, Cindy, died on January 23, 1999. His eldest son, Thomas J. Pritzker, has become chairman of The Hyatt Foundation. 3 Jun 2011 Pritzker Prize - President Obama Speech President Obama once thought of becoming an architect, he said at Thursday's Pritzker Architecture Prize event in Washington. Obama lauded Chicago's Pritzker family - Penny Pritzker was his 2008 presidential fund-raising chair - as well as Chicago's storied architecture in his remarks. Referring to Tom Pritzker, Obama said, "Now, as Tom mentioned, my interest in architecture goes way back. There was a time when I thought I could be an architect, where I expected to be more creative than I turned out, so I had to go into politics instead." official photo of President Obama THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE PRITZKER ARCHITECTURE PRIZE EVENT Andrew Mellon Auditorium Washington, D.C. 7:04 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Please -- please, everybody, have a seat. Well, thank you, Tom, for that introduction. Thank you to the entire Pritzker family for your friendship and incredible generosity towards so many causes. I want to welcome as well the diplomatic corps that is here, as well as Secretary Arne Duncan. On behalf of Michelle and myself, I want to begin by congratulating tonight's winner, Eduardo Souto de Moura. And I also want to recognize the members of the prize jury, who I think have a very difficult task in choosing from so many outstanding architects all around the world. Now, as Tom mentioned, my interest in architecture goes way back. There was a time when I thought I could be an architect, where I expected to be more creative than I turned out, so I had to go into politics instead. (Laughter.) And as the Pritzkers and so many others here can attest, if you love architecture there are few better places to live than in my hometown of Chicago. (Applause.) It is the birthplace of the skyscraper -- a city filled with buildings and public spaces designed by architects like Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry, who is here tonight. In fact, the headquarters of our last campaign was in a building based on a design by Mies van der Rohe. And for two years, we crammed it full of hundreds of people working around the clock and surviving on nothing but pizza. (Laughter.) I'm not sure if that's what Mies had in mind, but it worked out pretty well for us. And that's what architecture is all about. It's about creating buildings and spaces that inspire us, that help us do our jobs, that bring us together, and that become, at their best, works of art that we can move through and live in. And in the end, that's why architecture can be considered the most democratic of art forms. That's perhaps why Thomas Jefferson, who helped enshrine the founding principles of our nation, had such a passion for architecture and design. He spent more than 50 years perfecting his home at Monticello. And he spent countless hours sketching and revising his architectural drawings for the University of Virginia -- a place where he hoped generations would study and become, as he described it, "the future bulwark of the human mind in this hemisphere." Like Jefferson, tonight's honoree has spent his career not only pushing the boundaries of his art, but doing so in a way that serves the public good. Eduardo Souto de Moura has designed homes, shopping centers, art galleries, schools and subway stations -- all in a style that seems as effortless as it is beautiful. He's an expert at the use of different materials and colors, and his simple shapes and clean lines always fit seamlessly into their surroundings. Perhaps Eduardo's most famous work is the stadium he designed in Braga, Portugal. Never one to settle for the easy answer, Eduardo wanted to build this particular stadium on the side of a mountain. So he blasted out nearly a million and a half cubic yards of granite from the mountainside, then crushed it to make the concrete necessary to build the stadium. He also took great care to position the stadium in such a way that anyone who couldn't afford a ticket could watch the match from the surrounding hillsides. Kind of like Portugal's version of Wrigley Field. (Laughter.) And that combination of form and function, of artistry and accessibility, is why today we honor Eduardo with what is known as the "Nobel Prize of architecture." As Frank Gehry, a former winner of this prize, said, "Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness." I want to thank all the men and women who create these timeless works of art -- not only to bring us joy, but to help make this world a better place. And, Tom, thank you again for your extraordinary patronage of architecture. It makes an enormous difference. Thank you very much. (Applause.) END 7:09 P.M. EDT 29 Mar 2011 2011 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Eduardo Souto de Moura is the 2011 recipient of the prestigious Pritzker Prize. Souto de Moura is located in Porto, Portugal. Pritzker Prize winner for 2011: photo : Augusto Brázio Eduardo Souto de Moura is the second Portuguese architect to win the Pritzker Prize - architect Álvaro Siza won the award in 1992. Portuguese Architect Will Be Presented the 2011 Pritzker Architecture Prize in Washington, D.C. Los Angeles, CA - Eduardo Souto de Moura, a 58 year old architect from Portugal, is the jury’s choice for the 2011 Pritzker Architecture Prize, it was announced today by Thomas J. Pritzker, chairman of The Hyatt Foundation which sponsors the prize. The formal ceremony for what has come to be known throughout the world as architecture’s highest honor will be in one of Washington, D.C.’s finest classical buildings, the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on June 2 In announcing the jury’s choice, Pritzker elaborated, “This marks the second time in the history of the prize that a Portuguese architect has been chosen. The first was in 1992 when Alvaro Siza was so honored.” The purpose of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which was founded in 1979 by the late Jay A. Pritzker and his wife, Cindy, is to honor annually a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture. The laureates receive a $100,000 grant and a bronze medallion. Pritzker Prize jury chairman, The Lord Palumbo, spoke from his home in the United Kingdom, quoting from the jury citation that focuses on the reasons for this year’s choice: “During the past three decades, Eduardo Souto de Moura has produced a body of work that is of our time but also carries echoes of architectural traditions.” And further, “His buildings have a unique ability to convey seemingly conflicting characteristics — power and modesty, bravado and subtlety, bold public authority and a sense of intimacy —at the same time.” As a student, Souto de Moura worked for Alvaro Siza for five years. Since forming his own office in 1980, Souto de Moura has completed well over sixty projects, most in his native Portugal, but he has designs in Spain, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom and Switzerland. The projects include single family homes, a cinema, shopping centers, hotels, apartments, offices, art galleries and museums, schools, sports facilities and subways. photo : Luis Ferreira Alves His stadium in Braga, Portugal (above) was the site of European soccer championships when it was completed in 2004, and gained high praise. Nearly a million and a half cubic yards of granite were blasted from the site and crushed to make concrete for the stadium. Precise explosions of a mountain side created a hundred foot high granite face that terminates one end of the stadium. Souto de Moura describes this coexistence of the natural with the man made construction as good architecture. In his own words, “It was a drama to break down the mountain and make concrete from the stone.” The jury citation calls this work, “...muscular, monumental and very much at home within its powerful landscape.” photo : Christian Richters Another of his projects, the Burgo Tower (above), completed in 2007, constructed in the city where he lives and works, Porto, Portugal, is described by the jury as, “...two buildings side by side, one vertical and one horizontal with different scales, in dialogue with each other and the urban landscape.” Souto de Moura commented that “a twenty story office tower is an unusual project for me. I began my career building single family houses.” photo : Luis Ferreira Alves Souto de Moura has designed numerous residences, one of which, House Number Two (above) built in the town of Bom Jesus, was singled out by the jury for its “uncommon richness throughout the subtle banding in the concrete of its exterior walls.” Souto de Moura’s comments on the project: “Because the site was a fairly steep hill overlooking the city of Braga, we decided not to produce a large volume resting on a hilltop. Instead, we made the construction on five terraces with retainer walls, with a different function defined for each terrace-- fruit trees on the lowest level, a swimming pool on the next, the main parts of the house on the next, bedrooms on the fourth, and on the top, we planted a forest.” photo : Luis Ferreira Alves Another project in his native city, Porto, is the Cultural Center (above) completed in 1991, which the jury describes as “a testament to his ability to combine materials expressively.” He used copper, stone, concrete and wood. photo : Luis Ferreira Alves A convent and monastery in a mountainous terrain near Amares, Portugal, called Santa Maria do Bouro (above) was a project for Souto de Moura from 1989 to 1997, in which he converted the centuries old structure into a state inn. He recalls the walls were over four feet thick. Originally built in the 12th century, the jury declares in their citation that Souto de Moura “has created spaces that are both consistent with their history and modern in conception.” photo : Luis Ferreira Alves Souto de Moura, in describing another of his projects, has said, “After the painter Paula Rego chose me as her architect, I was lucky to be able to choose the site. It was a fenced off forest with some open space in the middle. On the basis of the elevation of the trees, I proposed a set of volumes of varying heights. Developing this play between the artificial and nature helped define the exterior color, red concrete, a color in opposition to the green forest. Two large pyramids along the entrance axis prevent the project from being a neutral sum of boxes.” The Paula Rego Museum (above) completed in 2008, is cited by the jury as “both civic and intimate, and so appropriate for the display of art.” Often described as a “Miesian architect,” the jury acknowledged this influence with the words, “He has the confidence to use stone that is a thousand years old or to take inspiration from a modern detail by Mies van der Rohe.” Upon learning that he was being honored, Souto de Moura had this reaction: “When I received the phone call telling me I was to be the Pritzker Laureate, I could hardly believe it. Then I received confirmation that it was actually true, and I came to realize what a great honor this is. The fact that this is the second time a Portuguese architect has been chosen makes it even more important.” The distinguished jury that selected the 2011 Pritzker Laureate consists of its chairman, The Lord Palumbo, internationally known architectural patron of London, chairman of the trustees, Serpentine Gallery, former chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain, former chairman of the Tate Gallery Foundation, and former trustee of the Mies van der Rohe Archive at the Museum of Modern Art, New York; and alphabetically: Alejandro Aravena, architect and executive director of Elemental in Santiago, Chile; Carlos Jimenez, professor, Rice University School of Architecture, principal, Carlos Jimenez Studio in Houston, Texas; Glenn Murcutt, architect and 2002 Pritzker Laureate of Sydney, Australia; Juhani Pallasmaa, architect, professor and author of Helsinki, Finland; Renzo Piano, architect and 1998 Pritzker Laureate, of Paris, France and Genoa, Italy; and Karen Stein, writer, editor and architectural consultant in New York. Martha Thorne, associate dean for external relations, IE School of Architecture, Madrid, Spain, is the executive director of the prize. In addition to the previous laureates already mentioned, the late Philip Johnson was 5 the first Pritzker Laureate in 1979. The late Luis Barragán of Mexico was named in 1980. The late James Stirling of the United Kingdom was elected in 1981, Kevin Roche in 1982, Ieoh Ming Pei in 1983, and Richard Meier in 1984. Hans Hollein of Austria was the 1985 Laureate. Gottfried Böhm of Germany received the prize in 1986. Robert Venturi received the honor in 1991, and Alvaro Siza of Portugal in 1992. Christian de Portzamparc of France was elected Pritzker Laureate in 1994. Frank Gehry of the United States was the recipient in 1989, the late Aldo Rossi of Italy in 1990. In 1996, Rafael Moneo of Spain was the Laureate; in 1997 the late Sverre Fehn of Norway; in 1998 Renzo Piano of Italy, in 1999 Sir Norman Foster of the UK, and in 2000, Rem Koolhaas of the Netherlands. Australian Glenn Murcutt received the prize in 2002. The late Jørn Utzon of Denmark was honored in 2003; Zaha Hadid of the UK in 2004; and Thom Mayne of the United States in 2005. Paulo Mendes da Rocha of Brazil was the Laureate in 2006, and Richard Rogers received the prize in 2007. Jean Nouvel of France was the Laureate in 2008. In 2009, Peter Zumthor of Switzerland received the award. Last year, two Japanese architects were honored, partners Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA, Inc. The field of architecture was chosen by the Pritzker family because of their keen interest in building due to their involvement with developing the Hyatt Hotels around the world; and because architecture was a creative endeavor not included in the Nobel Prizes. The procedures were modeled after the Nobels, with the final selection being made by the international jury with all deliberations and voting in secret. Nominations are continuous from year to year with hundreds of nominees from countries all around the world being considered each year. The site for this year’s ceremony, the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium was erected between 1932 and 1934, and is part of a large nine-building office complex called the Federal Triangle. At the time of its construction, it was the largest government owned assembly space in the city, and considered as one of the most magnificent settings for government ceremonies. It was designed by San Francisco based architect Arthur Brown, Jr. Originally called the Departmental Auditorium, it was renamed in 1987, the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. 2010 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Pritzker Prize 2010 : Information Pritzker Prize Winner 2010 : SANAA, architects Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Pritzker Prize, Winners through the Years 1979 Philip Johnson of the United States of America presented at Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C. 1980 Luis Barragán of Mexico presented at Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C. 1981 James Stirling of the United Kingdom presented at the National Building Museum, Washington, D.C. 1982 Kevin Roche of the United States of America presented at The Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois 1983 Ieoh Ming Pei of the United States of America presented at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York 1984 Richard Meier of the United States of America presented at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. 1985 Hans Hollein of Austria presented at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California 1986 Gottfried Böhm of Germany presented at Goldsmiths’ Hall, London, United Kingdom 1987 Kenzo Tange of Japan presented at the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas 1988 Gordon Bunshaft of the United States of America and Oscar Niemeyer of Brazil presented at The Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois 1989 Frank O. Gehry of the United States of America presented at the Todai-ji Buddhist Temple, Nara, Japan 1990 Aldo Rossi of Italy presented at Palazzo Grassi, Venice, Italy 1991 Robert Venturi of the United States of America presented at Palacio de Iturbide, Mexico City, Mexico 1992 Alvaro Siza of Portugal presented at the Harold Washington Library Center Chicago, Illinois 1993 Fumihiko Maki of Japan presented at Prague Castle, Czech Republic 1994 Christian de Portzamparc of France presented at The Commons, Columbus, Indiana 1995 Tadao Ando of Japan presented at the Grand Trianon and the Palace of Versailles, France 1996 Rafael Moneo of Spain presented at the construction site of The Getty Center, Los Angeles, Calfiornia 1997 Sverre Fehn of Norway presented at the construction site of The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain 1998 Renzo Piano of Italy presented at the White House, Washington, D.C. 1999 Sir Norman Foster (Lord Foster) of the United Kingdom presented at the Altes Museum, Berlin, Germany 2000 Rem Koolhaas of The Netherlands presented at the The Jerusalem Archaeological Park, Israel 2001 Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron of Switzerland presented at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello Charlottesville, Virginia 2002 Glenn Murcutt of Australia presented at Michelangelo’s Campidoglio in Rome, Italy 2003 Jørn Utzon of Denmark presented at Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, Madrid, Spain 2004 Zaha Hadid of the United Kingdom presented in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia 2005 Thom Mayne of the United States of America presented at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park Chicago, Illinois 2006 Paulo Mendes da Rocha of Brazil presented at the Dolmabahçe Palace Istanbul, Turkey 2007 Richard Rogers of the United Kingdom presented at the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace London, United Kingdom 2008 Jean Nouvel of France presented at the Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 2009 Peter Zumthor of Switzerland presented at the The Legislature Palace of the Buenos Aires City Council Buenos Aires, Argentina Pritzker Prize Winner 2009 : Peter Zumthor 2010 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureates Los Angeles, CA - Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, partners in the architectural firm, SANAA, have been chosen as the 2010 Laureates of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. The formal ceremony for what has come to be known throughout the world as architecture’s highest honor will be held on May 17 on historic Ellis Island in New York. At that time, a $100,000 grant and bronze medallions will be bestowed on the two architects. Pritzker Prize information from The Pritzker Prize 290310

Pritzker Architecture Prize Information

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Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate : Citation from the Jury + The Jury + Eduardo Souto de Moura information

Pritzker Prize Winner 2010 : SANAA, architects

Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate 2010 : Citation from the Jury + The Jury

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