We know the winner of the prestigious Pritzker Prize 2024. It has been awarded to Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto.
Riken Yamamoto (born 1945) was born in Beijing and moved to Yokohama, Japan after the end of World War II. He graduated from Nihon University, Department of Architecture, College of Science and Technology in 1968, and received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Department of Architecture, Tokyo University of the Arts in 1971. In 1973, he established his own studio, Riken Yamamoto & Field Shop.
The architect's designs express his beliefs through modular structure and simplicity of form. Some of Japan's most notable projects include the Saitama Prefectural University building (Japan), the Tianjin Library (China), Ecoms in Tosu (Japan) and the Pangyo Estate in Seongnam (South Korea).
Pangyo estate
© Kouichi Satake
Yamamoto recently became a visiting professor at Kanagawa University, and has also held this position at Tokyo University of Fine Arts, having previously taught at the Department of Engineering at Nihon University, the Departments of Architecture at National Yokohama University and Kogakuin University. He was also president of Nagoya Zokei University of Art and Design.
In his long, consistent and rigorous career, Riken Yamamoto has succeeded in creating architecture that acts as both background and foreground in everyday life, blurring the boundaries between its public and private dimensions and enhancing opportunities for spontaneous human encounters through precise, rational design strategies, the award's justification reads.
Tianjin Library
© Nacasa & Partners
"architectural Nobel"
ThePritzker Prize, considered one of the world's most important in the field of architecture, was established in 1979 at the initiative of a wealthy American hotel couple, Jay and Cindy Pritzker. The founders of this award aimed to increase public awareness of architecture and stimulate creativity in the architectural community. Often referred to as the "architectural Nobel," the award is given by the Hyatt Foundation for a lifetime of work to a living architect or design team. Applications for the award are accepted until the end of October each year.
Jian Wai SOHO
© Mitsumasa Fujitsuka
Suggestions of individuals for the award are collected from esteemed architects, including past award winners, lecturers, politicians and architecture journalists. Any architect licensed to practice may also submit their types. Criteria considered by the jury include the designer's talent and vision, the functionality of his works, their impact on the environment, including the regional scale, and their contribution to architecture.
Villa Yamakawa
© Tomio Ohashi
The jury for this year's award included Alejandro Aravena (jury chairman), Barry Bergdoll, Deborah Berke, Stephen Breyer, André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, Kazuyo Sejima, Wang Shu and Manuela Lucá-Dazio.
