Royal Gold Medal facts for kids

English architect Charles Robert Cockerell was the first person to receive the Royal Gold Medal in 1848.

The Royal Gold Medal is a very important award given every year for architecture. It's like a special prize for people or groups who have made a huge difference in how buildings are designed all around the world. The Royal Institute of British Architects gives out this medal on behalf of the British monarch (the King or Queen).

This medal is not given for just one building. Instead, it honors someone's entire career and all the amazing work they have done. It's about their lasting impact on architecture, not just what's popular right now.

The first Royal Gold Medal was given in 1848 to Charles Robert Cockerell. The next year, in 1849, an Italian named Luigi Canina received it. Many famous architects from the 1800s and 1900s have won this award. Some well-known names include Frank Lloyd Wright (1941), Le Corbusier (1953), and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1959). People from any country can win this award.

Who Can Win the Medal?

Not only architects have won the Royal Gold Medal. Sometimes, other talented people who help create amazing buildings are also honored.

• Engineers: People like Ove Arup (1966) and Peter Rice (1992) were engineers. They helped make some of the biggest and most complex buildings of the 20th century possible.
• Writers and Thinkers: The medal has also gone to people who write important books about architecture. This includes scholars like Sir Nikolaus Pevsner (1967) and theorists like Lewis Mumford (1961). They helped people understand and think about buildings in new ways.
• Archaeologists: These are people who study old buildings and ancient cities. Winners include Heinrich Schliemann (1885), who discovered the ancient city of Troy.
• Painters: Even famous painters like Lord Leighton (1894) have received the medal.

In 1999, the city of Barcelona in Spain even won the award! This was a special case, showing how a whole city can be recognized for its great design and planning.

List of Recipients

This table shows some of the people and groups who have received the Royal Gold Medal over the years.

See also

In Spanish: Royal Gold Medal para niños