Pritzker Architecture Prize

The Pritzker Architecture Prize is a prestigious international prize awarded annually to an architect or architects for their significant achievement. It is generally considered to be the architectural equivalent of the Nobel Prize and the ‘highest honour’ for the profession.

It was established in 1979 by Jay and Cindy Pritzker to honour living architects 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 was their intention that the prize would encourage and stimulate greater creativity within the profession as well as inspiring public interest and awareness.

The prize itself is US$100,000, a formal citation certificate and a bronze medallion, awarded at a ceremony held in a different architecturally significant location each year, usually during May.

The prize is conferred by an independent jury of experts that ranges in number from five to nine. The jurors serve for multiple years and are established professionals in fields including education and culture, as well as architecture. Nominations are solicited from past winners, academics, critics, politicians and other cultural professionals. A nomination can also be submitted for consideration by any licensed architect.

Previous winners:

• 1979: Philip Johnson (United States).
• 1980: Luis Barragan (Mexico).
• 1981: James Stirling (United Kingdom).
• 1982: Kevin Roche (United States).
• 1983: Ieoh Ming Pei (United States).
• 1984: Richard Meier (United States).
• 1985: Hans Hollein (Austria).
• 1986: Gottfried Bohm (Germany).
• 1987: Kenzo Tange (Japan).
• 1988: Gordon Bunshaft (United States) shared with Oscar Niemeyer (Brazil).
• 1989: Frank Gehry (United States).
• 1990: Aldo Rossi (Italy).
• 1991: Robert Venturi (United States).
• 1992: Alvaro Siza Vieira (Portugal).
• 1993: Fumihiko Maki (Japan).
• 1994: Christian de Portzampar (France).
• 1995: Tadao Ando (Japan).
• 1996: Rafael Moneo (Spain).
• 1997: Sverre Fehn (Norway).
• 1998: Renzo Piano (Italy).
• 1999: Norman Foster (United Kingdom).
• 2000: Rem Koolhaas (Netherlands).
• 2001: Herzog & de Meuron (Switzerland).
• 2002: Glenn Murcutt (Australia).
• 2003: Jorn Utzon (Denmark).
• 2004: Zaha Hadid (Iraq/United Kingdom).
• 2005: Thom Mayne (United States).
• 2006: Paulo Mendes da Rocha (Brazil).
• 2007: Richard Rogers (United Kingdom).
• 2008: Jean Nouvel (France).
• 2009: Peter Zumthor (Switzerland).
• 2010: Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA) (Japan).
• 2011: Eduardo Souto de Moura (Portugal).
• 2012: Wang Shu (China).
• 2013: Toyo Ito (Japan).
• 2014: Shigeru Ban (Japan).
• 2015: Frei Otto (Germany).
• 2016: Alejandro Aravena (Chile).
• 2017: RCR Arquitectes (Spain).
• 2018: Balkrishna Doshi (India).

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Architect.
• Carbuncle Cup.
• Concept architectural design.
• Frank Gehry.
• Pritzker Prize 2017.
• RIBA Stirling Prize 2016.
• Richard Rogers in conversation.
• Zaha Hadid.

[edit] External resources

• Pritzker Prize - Official site