Why is it in the News?

Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto was this week declared winner of the 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize, the highest international award in the field, which is sometimes referred to as the “Architecture Nobel”.

About Pritzker Architecture Prize:

• The Pritzker Architecture Prize is an international prize awarded each year to a living architect or a group of architects for significant achievements.
• It was established by the Pritzker family of Chicago in 1979 through their Hyatt Foundation, which until today is responsible for the prestigious award.
• The idea behind the Pritzker Prize is to honor contemporary architects “whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision, and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture.”
• The award consists of a bronze medallion and a prize money of 100,000 USD.
• It is conferred during a ceremony held at an architecturally significant site throughout the world.
• The prize, which is also known as the Nobel Prize of architecture, is awarded “irrespective of nationality, race, creed, or ideology”.
• Nominations come from a range of architects, academics, and critics and the jury consists of five to nine experts.

History of the Prize:

• The idea for the Pritzker Prize came from Jay and Cindy Pritzker, who wanted to encourage and stimulate a greater public awareness of architecture, while also inspiring more creativity in the profession.
• The name Pritzker comes from the family who are based in Chicago and own the Hyatt Hotels.

Riken Yamamoto's Notable Works:

• Yamamoto, the ninth laureate from Japan, is known for his iconic architectural designs, such as the Hiroshima Nishi Fire Station (2000), featuring a transparent façade with glass walls and floors, offering passersby a glimpse inside.
• His design of the Koyasu Elementary School (2018) incorporates spacious, open terraces that facilitate arts education in dance, music, and painting while fostering student interaction.