Anne Lacaton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anne Lacaton
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Anne Lacaton in 2017
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| Born | 2 August 1955 Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière
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| Nationality | French |
| Alma mater | ENSAPBx |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | Pritzker Prize (2021) |
| Practice | Lacaton & Vassal |
| Buildings | Grand Parc Bordeaux |
Anne Lacaton, born on August 2, 1955, is a talented architect and teacher from France. She leads an architecture firm called Lacaton & Vassal with her partner, Jean-Philippe Vassal. Together, they won the famous Pritzker Prize in 2021, which is like the Nobel Prize for architecture!
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Anne Lacaton was born in a place called Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière in France. She studied architecture at a special school in Bordeaux. Later, she earned another degree in urban planning. This means she learned how to design cities and towns.
Anne often visited Jean-Philippe Vassal in Niger, a country in Africa. He worked there as an architect. Together, they built their very first project: a simple hut made of straw!
Designing Buildings and Spaces
In 1987, Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal started their own architecture company, Lacaton & Vassal. They first worked in Bordeaux, then moved to Paris in 2000. Their goal is to build great spaces without spending too much money. They often mix new ideas with older building methods. This helps them create unique and affordable designs.
Cool Projects by Lacaton & Vassal
- Palais de Tokyo: In 2001, they updated the Palais de Tokyo, a modern art museum in Paris. They made an old art deco building near the Seine River look fresh and exciting. This project was even nominated for a big award!
- Tour Bois le Prêtre: In 2005, they worked on a tall apartment building in Paris called Tour Bois le Prêtre. It was built in 1957. The team removed many of the old walls. They added balconies and big sliding windows. This brought in more natural light for the people living there. They also made the apartments bigger and added new bathrooms and systems. This project was recognized as one of the best designs in 2013.
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- Other Important Buildings: Their firm has also designed the School of Architecture in Nantes. They worked on an art collection building in Dunkirk and a home in Cap Ferret. One of their most famous projects is the Grand Parc Bordeaux. This project won the EU Mies Award in 2019. It was named the best modern architecture in Europe!
Making Old Homes Better
Lacaton & Vassal have also worked on projects to improve old social housing. They call this project "Plus." Their idea is to take old apartment buildings from the 1960s and make them much better places to live. They have even written books about their ideas for these upgrades.
Teaching Architecture
Anne Lacaton is also a dedicated teacher. She has been a visiting professor at many famous universities around the world. These include the Higher Technical School of Architecture of Madrid and Harvard University. In 2017, she became a professor at ETH Zurich in Switzerland.
Anne believes that architecture should be about the people who use the buildings. She thinks buildings should be useful and comfortable, not just fancy to look at. Her teaching encourages students to design buildings that people can truly enjoy and be a part of.
Anne Lacaton also helped choose winners for The Daylight Award in 2020 and 2022. This award celebrates buildings that use natural light well.
Awards and Recognition
Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal have won many important awards for their amazing work.
- Lauréats des Albums de la Jeune Architecture, France – 1991
- Grand Prix National d'Architecture Jeune Talent, France – 1999
- Erich Schelling Award − 2006
- Fondation Erich Schelling, Karlsruhe Award "Sustainability and Residential Innovation", City of Madrid – 2006
- Royal Institute of British Architects International Fellowship in 2009
- Grand prix national de l'architecture in 2008
- Paris, France Equerre d'Argent Award (with Frederic Druot) – 2011
- Paris Daylight & Building Components Award – 2011
- Design of the year, architecture category (with Frederic Druot) – 2013
- Rolf Schock Prize in the Visual Arts in 2014
- Life Time Achievement – Trienal de Arquitectura de Lisboa – 2016
- Académie de l'Architecture France – Gold Medal – 2016
- Simon Architecture Prize/ Fondation Mies Van der Rohe – The Living Places (with Frederic Druot) – 2016
- Heinrich Tessenow Medal in 2016
- Global Award for Sustainable Architecture (with Frederic Druot) in 2018
- Mies van der Rohe Award in 2019
- Großer BDA Preis (BDA Grand Prize) in 2020 for their life's work
- Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2021
- Soane Medal in 2023
- Jane Drew Prize for Architecture 2025
See also
In Spanish: Anne Lacaton para niños
