Pritzker Prize

Pritzker Architecture Prize

Awarded A living architect whose built work demonstrates a

for 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

First 1979
awarded

Official http://www.pritzkerprize.com/
Website

The Pritzker Architecture Prize is awarded annually by the Hyatt Foundation to honor
"a living architect 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".
Founded in 1979 by Jay A. Pritzker and his wife Cindy, the award is funded by the
Pritzker family and is considered to be one of the world's premier architecture prizes; it
is often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture. The prize is awarded "irrespective
of nationality, race, creed, or ideology"; the recipients receive US$100,000, a citation
certificate, and since 1987, a bronze medallion. The Latin inscription on the reverse of
the medallionfirmitas, utilitas, venustas (English: firmness, commodity and delight)
is inspired by Roman architect Vitruvius. Before 1987, a limited edition Henry Moore
sculpture accompanied the monetary prize.

The Executive Director of the prize, as of 2009, Martha Thorne, solicits nominations
from a range of people including past Laureates, academics, critics and others "with
expertise and interest in the field of architecture". Any licensed architect can also make
a personal application for the prize before 1 November every year. The jury, each year
consisting of five to nine "experts ... recognized professionals in their own fields of
architecture, business, education, publishing, and culture", deliberate early the following
year before announcing the winner in spring.

Inaugural winner Philip Johnson was cited "for 50 years of imagination and vitality
embodied in a myriad of museums, theaters, libraries, houses, gardens and corporate
structures". The 2004 laureate Zaha Hadid is the only female prize winner. Christian de
Portzamparc is the youngest winner, being 50 in 1994 at the time of the award. The 33rd
and most recent winner Peter Zumthor was cited for "paring down architecture to its
barest yet most sumptuous essentials".

Laureates

The inaugural laureate Philip Johnson

Winner in 1983, Ieoh Ming Pei

1984 laureate Richard Meier

Oscar Niemeyer won in 1988

1999 winner Sir Norman Foster

Rem Koolhaas won in 2000

Year Laureate Nationality Example work (year Ceremony Ref(s)

 completed) location

Philip Glass House Dumbarton [12]

1979 United States
Johnson (1949) Oaks

Ciudad
Luis Dumbarton [3]
1980 Mexico Satlite
Barragn Oaks
(1957)

Seeley
National
Sir James United Historical [13]
1981 Building
Stirling Kingdom Library
Museum
(1968)

Knights of
Kevin Columbus Art Institute of [2][A]
1982 United States
Roche Building Chicago
(1969)

National
Gallery of Metropolitan
Ieoh Ming [14][B]
1983 United States Art, East Museum of
Pei
Building Art
(1978)
High
Richard National [2]
1984 United States Museum of
Meier Gallery of Art
Art (1983)

Abteiberg The
Hans [2]
1985 Austria Museum Huntington
Hollein
(1982) Library
Iglesia
Youth Worshipful
Gottfried West [2]
1986 Center Company of
Bhm Germany
Library Goldsmiths
(1968)

American
Medical
Kenzo Kimbell Art [15]
1987 Japan Association
Tange Museum
headquarters
(1987)
 Beinecke
Rare Book
Gordon and Art Institute of [2]
1988 United States
Bunshaft Manuscript Chicago
Library
(1963)

Cathedral of
Oscar Art Institute of [2]
1988 Brazil Braslia
Niemeyer Chicago
(1958)

Santa
Canada [14][C]
1989 Frank Gehry Monica Tdai-ji
United States
Place (1980)

Bonnefanten
[16]
1990 Aldo Rossi Italy Museum Palazzo Grassi
(1990)
National
Gallery
Robert Palacio de [17]
1991 United States (London),
Venturi Iturbide
Sainsbury
Wing (1991)

Pavilion of
Harold
lvaro Siza Portugal in [18]
1992 Portugal Washington
Vieira Expo'98
Library
(1998)

Tokyo
Fumihiko Metropolitan [15]
1993 Japan Prague Castle
Maki Gymnasium
(1991)
French The
Christian de Embassy, Commons, [19]
1994 France
Portzamparc Berlin Columbus,
(2003) Indiana
Nagaragawa
Convention Palace of [20]
1995 Tadao Ando Japan
Center Versailles
(1995)
 Kursaal
Rafael [14]
1996 Spain Palace Getty Center
Moneo
(1999)
Norwegian
Guggenheim
Glacier [21]
1997 Sverre Fehn Norway Museum
Museum
Bilbao
(1991)
Kansai
International [22]
1998 Renzo Piano Italy White House
Airport
(1994)
Millennium
Lord
United Bridge [14]
1999 Norman Altes Museum
Kingdom (London)
Foster
(2000)

Second
Jerusalem
Rem Stage [23]
2000 Netherlands Archaeologica
Koolhaas Theatre
l Park
(1999)

Herzog & Tate Modern [24]

2001 Switzerland Monticello
de Meuron (2000)

Berowra
Glenn Michelangelo's [25]
2002 Australia Waters Inn
Murcutt Campidoglio
(1983)
Sydney Royal
Opera Academy of [26]
2003 Jrn Utzon Denmark
House Fine Arts of
(1973) San Fernando
Bridge
United Hermitage [14][D]
2004 Zaha Hadid Pavilion
Kingdom Museum
(2008)
San
Pritzker
Francisco
Thom Pavilion, [27]
2005 United States Federal
Mayne Millennium
Building
Park
(2007)
Estdio
Paulo
Serra Dolmabahe [28]
2006 Mendes da Brazil
Dourada Palace
Rocha
(1975)
 Lord Lloyd's Banqueting
United [29]
2007 Richard building House,
Kingdom
Rogers (1986) Whitehall

Torre Agbar Library of [14]

2008 Jean Nouvel France
(2005) Congress

Legislative
Peter Therme Vals Palace of the [14]
2009 Switzerland
Zumthor (1996) City Council,
Buenos Aires

Footnotes
A. a Roche was born in Ireland.
B. b Pei was born in China.
C. c Gehry was born in Canada.
D. d Hadid was born in Iraq.