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Pritzker Architecture Prize facts for kids

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Pritzker Architecture Prize
Medal of Pritzker Architecture Prize (front).gif
Medal of the Pritzker Architecture Prize
Reward US$100,000
First awarded 1979; 47 years ago (1979)

The Pritzker Architecture Prize is a very important international award given out every year. It celebrates a living architect or a team of architects whose amazing buildings show great talent, new ideas, and dedication. These architects create structures that make a big difference to people and the world around us through their art.

This special prize was started in 1979 by Jay A. Pritzker and his wife Cindy. Their family, the Pritzker family, and the Hyatt Foundation help fund it. Many people call it the "Nobel Prize of architecture" because it's one of the top awards in the world for building design.

How Architects Win the Pritzker Prize

The judges for the Pritzker Architecture Prize choose winners based only on their amazing work. They don't care about where someone is from, their background, or their beliefs.

Winners receive a special certificate and a bronze medal. Since 1987, this medal has a cool design inspired by architect Louis Sullivan. On the back, it has a Latin phrase: firmitas, utilitas, venustas. This means "strength, usefulness, and beauty." These words come from an Ancient Roman architect named Vitruvius. Before 1987, winners received a unique sculpture instead of the medal.

Who Decides the Winners?

The prize's executive director, Manuela Lucá-Dazio, asks many experts to suggest architects for the award. These experts include past winners, teachers, and critics who know a lot about architecture. Any architect with a license can also apply for the prize themselves!

A special group of five to nine "experts" then carefully discusses all the nominees. These experts are leaders in architecture, business, education, and culture. They announce the winner early each year. The person leading this group of judges right now is Alejandro Aravena, who won the prize himself in 2016.

Famous Pritzker Prize Winners

Many incredible architects have won the Pritzker Prize over the years. Each winner has created buildings that inspire and serve people around the world.

  • The very first winner in 1979 was Philip Johnson. He was honored for his 50 years of creative and lively designs, including many museums, theaters, libraries, and homes.
  • In 2004, Zaha Hadid made history as the first woman to ever win the prize. Her designs were known for their unique, flowing shapes.
  • Ryue Nishizawa became one of the youngest winners in 2010 when he was just 44 years old. He often shares the award with his partner, Kazuyo Sejima.
  • Sometimes, two or even three architects share the prize! For example, in 2001, Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron won together. In 2017, Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem, and Ramon Vilalta were the first group of three to share the honor.
  • The most recent winner, in 2026, is Smiljan Radic from Chile, recognized for his imaginative and often surprising architectural works.

Images for kids

  • Philip Johnson 2002 FILARDO (3x4 cropped)

    Philip Johnson

  • Casa de Cristal P.J

    Glass House (1949) by Philip Johnson

  • Luis Barragán Morfín 234 (3x4 cropped)

    Luis Barragán

  • Cuadra San Cristóbal (17423058118)

    Cuadra San Cristóbal (1968) by Luis Barragán

  • James Stirling 01 (3x4 cropped)

    James Stirling

  • History Faculty University of Cambridge

    Seeley Historical Library (1968) by James Stirling

  • Kevin Roche Pritzker portrait 1982 (3x4 cropped)

    Kevin Roche

  • Interior-Ford Foundation-01

    Ford Foundation Building (1967) by Kevin Roche

  • Itzhak Perlman with I.M. Pei, architect, looking at model of NYC Convention Center (03124v) (cropped)

    I. M. Pei

  • East Building of the National Gallery of Art, 2019

    National Gallery of Art, East Building (1978) by I. M. Pei

  • Richard Meier at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival

    Richard Meier

  • 10 The High

    High Museum of Art (1983) by Richard Meier

  • Hans Hollein, Architect, Designer (3x4 cropped)

    Hans Hollein

  • Mönchengladbach museum mit skulpturengarten

    Abteiberg Museum (1982) by Hans Hollein

  • Gottfried Böhm 2015

    Gottfried Böhm

  • 2023-05-Wallfahrtskirche-Maria-Koenigin-des-Friedens-Neviges-3

    Church of the Pilgrimage (1968) by Gottfried Böhm

  • Kenzo Tange 1981 (3x4 cropped)

    Kenzō Tange

  • 20030702 2 July 2003 Tokyo Cathedorale 1 Tange Kenzou Sekiguchi Tokyo Japan b

    St. Mary's Cathedral, Tokyo (1964) by Kenzō Tange

  • Yale-beinecke-library

    Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library (1963) by Gordon Bunshaft

  • Oscar Niemeyer 1968

    Oscar Niemeyer

  • Cathedral Brasilia Niemeyer

    Cathedral of Brasília (1958) by Oscar Niemeyer

  • Frank O. Gehry - Parc des Ateliers (3x4 cropped)

    Frank Gehry

  • Gehry House - Image01

    Gehry Residence (1978) by Frank Gehry

  • AldoRossi

    Aldo Rossi

  • Cimitero San Cataldo crop

    San Cataldo Cemetery (1978) by Aldo Rossi

  • Robert Venturi 2008 Rome (cropped)

    Robert Venturi

  • National Gallery London Sainsbury Wing 2006-04-17

    National Gallery, Sainsbury Wing (1991) by Robert Venturi

  • Siza Vieira na Exponor (3x4 cropped)

    Álvaro Siza Vieira

  • Swimming Pool Piscinas de Marés Leça da Palmeira by Álvaro Siza foto Christian Gänshirt

    Leça Swimming Pools (1966) by Álvaro Siza Vieira

  • Fumihiko Maki 2010 alt (3x4 cropped)

    Fumihiko Maki

  • Tōkyō Taiikukan Japan

    Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium (1991) by Fumihiko Maki

  • Christian de Portzamparc (2018)

    Christian de Portzamparc

  • Cité de la musique (121)

    City of Music (1995) by Christian de Portzamparc

  • Tadao Ando 2004 (3x4 cropped)

    Tadao Ando

  • Church of Light

    Church of the Light (1989) by Tadao Ando

  • Autor Germán Saiz Rafael Moneo (3x4 cropped)

    Rafael Moneo

  • MNAR (Mérida) Interior 01 retouched

    National Museum of Roman Art (1986) by Rafael Moneo

  • Sverre Fehn DEX T 1954 006 (cropped)

    Sverre Fehn

  • Isbremuseet

    Norwegian Glacier Museum (1991) by Sverre Fehn

  • Renzo Piano, portrait (3x4 cropped)

    Renzo Piano

  • Kansai International Airport02n4n4272

    Kansai International Airport (1994) by Renzo Piano

  • Norman Foster (3x4 cropped)

    Norman Foster

  • HK HSBC Main Building 2008

    HSBC Building (1985) by Norman Foster

  • Rem Koolhaas (3x4 cropped)

    Rem Koolhaas

  • Kunsthal Rotterdam

    Kunsthal (1992) by Rem Koolhaas

  • Herzog & de Meuron Myths and Collaborations over Time (3x4 cropped)

    Jacques Herzog & Pierre de Meuron

  • Tate Modern - Bankside Power Station

    Tate Modern (2000) by Herzog & de Meuron

  • Glenn Murcutt 27-11-04 (3x4 cropped)

    Glenn Murcutt

  • Berowra Waters Inn, NSW, Australia 04

    Berowra Waters Inn (1983) by Glenn Murcutt

  • Sydney opera house side view

    Sydney Opera House (1973) by Jørn Utzon

  • Zaha Hadid in Heydar Aliyev Cultural center in Baku nov 2013 (cropped)

    Zaha Hadid

  • 12-06-05-innsbruck-by-ralfr-188

    Bergisel Ski Jump (2003) by Zaha Hadid

  • Thom Mayne, USC, 2023 (3x4 cropped)

    Thom Mayne

  • Cal Trans District7 HD-2

    Caltrans District 7 Headquarters (2004) by Thom Mayne

  • Paulo Mendes Da Rocha-Arquisur 2009 (cropped)

    Paulo Mendes da Rocha

  • Paulo mendes da rocha - capela de são pedro apóstolo - campos do jordão - são paulo - brasil

    Saint Peter Chapel (1987) by Paulo Mendes da Rocha

  • Richard Rogers - Portrait 2008 (3x4 cropped)

    Richard Rogers

  • Lloyds Building stair case

    Lloyd's building (1986) by Richard Rogers

  • Jean Nouvel 2009 Vienna frontal (3x4 cropped)

    Jean Nouvel

  • Torre Agbar and Glories

    Torre Agbar (2005) by Jean Nouvel

  • Peter Zumthor (3x4 cropped)

    Peter Zumthor

  • Therme Vals wall structure, Vals, Graubünden, Switzerland - 20060811

    Therme Vals (1996) by Peter Zumthor

  • Kazuyo Sejima mg 5000 (3x4 cropped)

    Kazuyo Sejima

  • Kanazawa21seikibijutsukan

    21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (2003) by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa

  • Eduardo Souto de Moura

    Eduardo Souto de Moura

  • Estadio Braga

    Estádio Municipal de Braga (2004) by Eduardo Souto de Moura

  • Wang-Shu Taipei (3x4 cropped)

    Wang Shu

  • North facet of NBM

    Ningbo Museum (2008) by Wang Shu

  • Toyo Ito 2009 (3x4 cropped)

    Toyo Ito

  • Sendai Mediatheque 2009

    Sendai Mediatheque (2001) by Toyo Ito

  • Shigeru Ban (3x4 cropped)

    Shigeru Ban

  • Metz (F) - Centre Pompidou - Außenansicht

    Centre Pompidou-Metz (2010) by Shigeru Ban

  • 2014 Olympiastadion Munich

    Olympic Stadium, Munich (1972) by Frei Otto

  • Premio Abdón Cifuentes 2015 - Alejandro Aravena 02 (3x4 cropped)

    Alejandro Aravena

  • Campus San Joaquín (15)

    Siamese Towers (2005) by Alejandro Aravena

  • BIBLIOTECA RCR

    Sant Antoni Library (2008) by Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem, and Ramon Vilalta

  • Balkrishna Doshi (3x4 cropped)

    B. V. Doshi

  • Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore academic block

    Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (1977–1992) by B. V. Doshi

  • ARATA ISOZAKI, ARCHITECT 01 (3x4 cropped)

    Arata Isozaki

  • Mito Art Tower

    Art Tower Mito (1990) by Arata Isozaki

  • Yvonne Farrell at arcVision 2015 (3x4 cropped)

    Yvonne Farrell

  • Shelly mcnamara 2013 (3x4 cropped)

    Shelley McNamara

  • Grafton Building

    The Grafton Building (2007) by Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara

  • Lacaton Vassal Lecture at Columbia GSAPP cropped

    Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal

  • L'école d'architecture (Nantes) (9304278276)

    National School of Architecture, Nantes (2009) by Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal

  • Francis Kere, 2019 (cropped)

    Diébédo Francis Kéré

  • Kere centre earth architecture mopti

    Centre for Earth Architecture (2010) by Diébédo Francis Kéré

  • David Chipperfield (3x4 cropped)

    David Chipperfield

  • Grand escalier du Hall du Neues Museum (Berlin) (6098967815)

    Neues Museum, Berlin (1997–2009) by David Chipperfield

  • Riken Yamamoto 2016 (3x4 cropped)

    Riken Yamamoto

  • Yokosuka Museum of Art 2009

    Yokosuka Museum of Art (2007) by Riken Yamamoto

  • 成都西村·贝森大院内庭

    West Village, Chengdu (2015) by Liu Jiakun

  • Smiljan Radić

    Smiljan Radic

  • Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, July 2014 (10)

    Serpentine Gallery Pavilion (2014) by Smiljan Radic

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Premio Pritzker para niños

  • Driehaus Architecture Prize
  • J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize
  • List of architecture awards
  • List of design awards
  • List of prizes known as the Nobel of a field or the highest honors of a field
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