The Pritzker Architecture Prize is given each year by the Hyatt Foundation. It is for talented and significant architect who has created great projects throughout his or her life. Jay A. Pritzker and his wife Cindy began the award in 1979. The Pritzker family pays for the prize. It is the top prize in architecture, and it is often called the Nobel Prize of architecture. The country, race, religion or political ideas of the architect are not important. Winners get US$100,000 and a certificate. Winners receive a medal. The back of the medal has these words in Latin—firmitas, utilitas, venustas (English: durability, utility, and beauty). The idea comes from the Roman architect Vitruvius. Before 1987, a limited edition Henry Moore sculpture came with the prize money.
Selection
Martha Thorne has been the Executive Director since 2009. The director asks many people, including past winners, academics, critics and others involved in architecture to suggest possible winners. Any licensed architect can also apply for the prize before 1 November every year. In 1988 Gordon Bunshaft applied for the award himself and eventually won it. Five to nine jury members meet early the next year before announcing the winner in spring.
Winners
The first winner was Philip Johnson. The award was "for 50 years of imagination and vitality" shown by the many "museums, theaters, libraries, houses, gardens and corporate structures". The 2004 laureate Zaha Hadid was the first female prize winner. Ryūe Nishizawa became the youngest winner in 2010 at age 44. The most recent winner, in 2019, is Arata Isozaki.
List of prize winners
Year |
Laureate |
Nationality |
Example work (year completed) |
Ceremony location |
Ref(s) |
---|
1979 |
Johnson, PhilipPhilip Johnson |
United States |
|
Glass House (1949) |
Dumbarton Oaks |
|
1980 |
Barragán, LuisLuis Barragán |
Mexico |
|
Torres de Satélite (1957) |
Dumbarton Oaks |
|
1981 |
Stirling, Sir JamesSir James Stirling |
United Kingdom |
|
Seeley Historical Library (1968) |
National Building Museum |
|
1982 |
Roche, KevinKevin Roche |
Ireland |
|
Knights of Columbus Building (1969) |
Art Institute of Chicago |
|
1983 |
Pei, Ieoh MingIeoh Ming Pei |
United States |
|
National Gallery of Art, East Building (1978) |
Metropolitan Museum of Art |
|
1984 |
Meier, RichardRichard Meier |
United States |
|
High Museum of Art (1983) |
National Gallery of Art |
|
1985 |
Hollein, HansHans Hollein |
Austria |
|
Abteiberg Museum (1982) |
The Huntington Library |
|
1986 |
Böhm, GottfriedGottfried Böhm |
West Germany |
|
Iglesia Youth Center Library (1968) |
Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths |
|
1987 |
Tange, KenzōKenzō Tange |
Japan |
|
St. Mary's Cathedral, Tokyo (1964) |
Kimbell Art Museum |
|
1988 |
Bunshaft, GordonGordon Bunshaft |
United States |
|
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library (1963) |
Art Institute of Chicago |
|
1988 |
Niemeyer, OscarOscar Niemeyer |
Brazil |
|
Cathedral of Brasília (1958) |
Art Institute of Chicago |
|
1989 |
Gehry, FrankFrank Gehry |
Canada United States |
|
Walt Disney Concert Hall (1999–2003) |
Tōdai-ji |
|
1990 |
Rossi, AldoAldo Rossi |
Italy |
|
Bonnefanten Museum (1990) |
Palazzo Grassi |
|
1991 |
Venturi, RobertRobert Venturi |
United States |
|
National Gallery (London), Sainsbury Wing (1991) |
Palacio de Iturbide |
|
1992 |
Vieira, Álvaro SizaÁlvaro Siza Vieira |
Portugal |
|
Pavilion of Portugal in Expo'98 (1998) |
Harold Washington Library |
|
1993 |
Maki, FumihikoFumihiko Maki |
Japan |
|
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium (1991) |
Prague Castle |
|
1994 |
de Portzamparc, ChristianChristian de Portzamparc |
France |
|
French Embassy, Berlin (2003) |
The Commons, Columbus, Indiana |
|
1995 |
Ando, TadaoTadao Ando |
Japan |
|
Nagaragawa Convention Center (1995) |
Palace of Versailles |
|
1996 |
Moneo, RafaelRafael Moneo |
Spain |
|
Kursaal Palace (1999) |
Getty Center |
|
1997 |
Fehn, SverreSverre Fehn |
Norway |
|
Norwegian Glacier Museum (1991) |
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao |
|
1998 |
Piano, RenzoRenzo Piano |
Italy |
|
Kansai International Airport (1994) |
White House |
|
1999 |
Foster, NormanNorman Foster |
United Kingdom |
|
Millennium Bridge (London) (2000) |
Altes Museum |
|
2000 |
Koolhaas, RemRem Koolhaas |
Netherlands |
|
Casa da Música (2003) |
Jerusalem Archaeological Park |
|
2001 |
Herzog & de Meuron |
Switzerland |
|
Tate Modern (2000) |
Monticello |
|
2002 |
Murcutt, GlennGlenn Murcutt |
Australia |
|
Berowra Waters Inn (1983) |
Michelangelo's Campidoglio |
|
2003 |
Utzon, JørnJørn Utzon |
Denmark |
|
Sydney Opera House (1973) |
Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando |
|
2004 |
Hadid, ZahaZaha Hadid |
United Kingdom Iraq |
|
Bridge Pavilion (2008) |
Hermitage Museum |
|
2005 |
Mayne, ThomThom Mayne |
United States |
|
San Francisco Federal Building (2007) |
Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park |
|
2006 |
da Rocha, Paulo MendesPaulo Mendes da Rocha |
Brazil |
|
Saint Peter Chapel, São Paulo (1987) |
Dolmabahçe Palace |
|
2007 |
Rogers, RichardRichard Rogers |
United Kingdom |
|
Lloyd's building (1986) |
Banqueting House, Whitehall |
|
2008 |
Nouvel, JeanJean Nouvel |
France |
|
Torre Agbar (2005) |
Library of Congress |
|
2009 |
Zumthor, PeterPeter Zumthor |
Switzerland |
|
Therme Vals (1996) |
Legislative Palace of the City Council, Buenos Aires |
|
2010 |
Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA) |
Japan |
|
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (2003) |
Ellis Island |
|
2011 |
Eduardo Souto de Moura |
Portugal |
|
Estádio Municipal de Braga, Braga (2004) |
Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium |
|
2012 |
Wang Shu |
China |
|
Ningbo Museum (2008) |
Beijing |
|
2013 |
Toyo Ito |
Japan |
|
Sendai Mediatheque, Sendai (2001) |
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston |
|
2014 |
Shigeru Ban |
Japan |
|
|
Takatori Catholic Church, Kobe (2005) |
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
|
See also
In Spanish: Premio Pritzker para niños