The Most Reputable Prize In The Architecture Field
Jay and Cindy Pritzker believed that “A meaningful prize would encourage and stimulate not only a greater public awareness of buildings but also would inspire greater creativity within the architectural profession”.
Brief information about The Pritzker Prize
Jay and Cindy Pritzker believed that “A meaningful prize would encourage and stimulate not only a greater public awareness of buildings but also would inspire greater creativity within the architectural profession”.
The international prize is awarded annually to a living architect for their achievement, and it was established by the Pritzker family of Chicago in 1979. The award is considered one of the world's first architecture prizes and is often called the "Nobel Prize". The award consists of $100,000 (US) and a bronze medallion.
History of the Award
The prize takes its name from the Pritzker family, whose international businesses are headquartered in Chicago. Founded in 1979 by Jay A. Pritzker and his wife Cindy, the award is funded by the Pritzker family and sponsored by the Hyatt Foundation. The Pritzkers have known for their support of educational, scientific, medical, and cultural activities.
Ceremony
The official ceremony granting the award takes place every year, usually in May. The designs on the medal are inspired by the work of architect Louis Sullivan, while the Latin inspired inscription on the reverse of the medallion—firmitas, utilitas, venustas (in English: firmness, commodity, and delight) is from the Roman architect Vitruvius.
Laureates of The Pritzker Award
The Pritzker Award is the most significant prize in the field of architecture. The award was first given in 1979, when the American architect Philip Johnson, was awarded for his iconic works such as the “Glass House” in New Canaan, Connecticut.
The Pritzker Prize has been awarded to many countries, and there are now 22 countries with at least one winning architect.
In terms of gender, five women have won the award: Zaha Hadid (2004), Kazuyo Sejima (2010, together with Ryue Nishizawa), Carme Pigem (2017, together with Ramón Vilalta and Rafael Aranda), and Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara (2020). While in 2012, Chinese architect Lu Wenyu rejected the proposal of the award, saying that "I never wanted a Pritzker"
In 2021, Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal from French were awarded The Pritzker Prize.
