Alejandro Aravena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alejandro Aravena
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Alejandro Aravena in 2015
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Alejandro Gastón Aravena Mori
22 June 1967 |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | Global Award for Sustainable Architecture (2008), Pritzker Architecture Prize (2016), Urban Land Institute J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development (2019) |
| Practice | Elemental S.A. |
Alejandro Gastón Aravena Mori (born June 22, 1967) is a famous Chilean architect. He is known for designing buildings that help people, especially those who need affordable homes. He leads a company called Elemental S.A. In 2016, he won the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which is like the Nobel Prize for architects. He also directed a big architecture show called the Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2016.
Contents
Learning and Building a Career
Alejandro Aravena finished his architecture studies in Chile in 1992. He then studied art history in Italy for a year. In 1994, he started his own architecture office. From 2000 to 2005, he taught as a visiting professor at Harvard Graduate School of Design in the United States. He also teaches at a university in Chile.
In 2006, he became the head of ELEMENTAL. This company works to solve social problems through design. They focus on building good, affordable homes and public spaces.
In 2015, Aravena was chosen to be the director of the Venice Biennale of Architecture. This is a huge international exhibition where architects show their new ideas. For the 2016 show, he focused on important topics like:
- Homes for many people (social housing)
- Homes that can be added to over time (incremental housing)
- How cities and nature connect
- Using both modern technology and natural materials
- Valuing handmade work and traditional skills
He invited many well-known architects to share their work at the exhibition.
Important Buildings and Projects
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Aravena has designed many interesting buildings. One of his famous designs is the "Siamese Towers" at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. This building looks like two towers leaning towards each other. He also designed the Anacleto Angelini Innovation Center, which is a modern building for new ideas.
His work includes:
- Schools, like the Colegio Huelquén Montessori.
- Houses, such as a home for a sculptor and a house by a lake.
- Student dorms at St. Edward’s University in Texas.
- Art workshops in Germany.
- A villa in Inner Mongolia.
- A children's playground in Santiago's Metropolitan Park.
Many of his projects are part of the Elemental initiative. These projects aim to improve cities and the lives of people living in them.
Awards and Recognition
Alejandro Aravena has received many awards for his work. In 2008, he won the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture. This award recognizes architects who design buildings that are good for the environment and society. He also won a Silver Lion prize at the Venice Biennale.
In 2016, he received the Pritzker Architecture Prize. This is one of the highest honors an architect can get. It celebrates architects whose work shows talent, vision, and a commitment to humanity. Before winning, he was actually a member of the Pritzker Prize jury from 2009 to 2015.
His designs have been shown in exhibitions around the world. These include shows at Harvard University, the São Paulo Biennale, and the MoMA in New York.
See also
In Spanish: Alejandro Aravena para niños
