Pritzker Prize 2017
On 1 March 2017, Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta of Spanish studio RCR Arquitectes were named the 2017 laureates of the Pritzker Architecture Prize.
As the 39th recipients of architecture’s most prestigious award, the three Catalan architects, who founded their practice in 1988, will receive the bronze medallion at a ceremony in Tokyo.
It is an unusual choice by the jury to have awarded the prize to three rather than just a single architect. They are also only the second Spanish laureates, with the first being Rafael Moneo in 1996.
The chair of the jury, architect Glenn Murcutt, said:
"Aranda, Pigem and Vilalta have had an impact on the discipline far beyond their immediate area. Their works range from public and private spaces to cultural venues and educational institutions, and their ability to intensely relate the environment specific to each site is a testament to their process and deep integrity.
"They've demonstrated that unity of a material can lend such incredible strength and simplicity to a building.
"The collaboration of these three architects produces uncompromising architecture of a poetic level, representing timeless work that reflects great respect for the past, while projecting clarity that is of the present and the future."
Some of their most notable projects include the following:
- Bell-Lloc Winery, Girona.
- Crematorium Hofheide, Belgium.
- Les Cols Restaurant Marquee, Olot.
- Barberí Laboratory, Olot.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Building Safety recap February, 2026
Our regular run-down of key building safety related events of the month.
Planning reform: draft NPPF and industry responses.
Last chance to comment on proposed changes to the NPPF.
A Regency palace of colour and sensation. Book review.
Delayed, derailed and devalued
How the UK’s planning crisis is undermining British manufacturing.
How much does it cost to build a house?
A brief run down of key considerations from a London based practice.
The need for a National construction careers campaign
Highlighted by CIOB to cut unemployment, reduce skills gap and deliver on housing and infrastructure ambitions.
AI-Driven automation; reducing time, enhancing compliance
Sustainability; not just compliance but rethinking design, material selection, and the supply chains to support them.
Climate Resilience and Adaptation In the Built Environment
New CIOB Technical Information Sheet by Colin Booth, Professor of Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure.
Turning Enquiries into Profitable Construction Projects
Founder of Develop Coaching and author of Building Your Future; Greg Wilkes shares his insights.
IHBC Signpost: Poetry from concrete
Scotland’s fascinating historic concrete and brutalist architecture with the Engine Shed.
Demonstrating that apprenticeships work for business, people and Scotland’s economy.
Scottish parents prioritise construction and apprenticeships
CIOB data released for Scottish Apprenticeship Week shows construction as top potential career path.
From a Green to a White Paper and the proposal of a General Safety Requirement for construction products.
Creativity, conservation and craft at Barley Studio. Book review.
The challenge as PFI agreements come to an end
How construction deals with inherited assets built under long-term contracts.
Skills plan for engineering and building services
Comprehensive industry report highlights persistent skills challenges across the sector.
Choosing the right design team for a D&B Contract
An architect explains the nature and needs of working within this common procurement route.
Statement from the Interim Chief Construction Advisor
Thouria Istephan; Architect and inquiry panel member outlines ongoing work, priorities and next steps.