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Celebrated Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama passes away aged 93

2023-09-05T13:45:00-04:00

Raymond Moriyama, a generational talent who greatly influenced the development of modern architecture in his native Canada, passed away on September 1st, according to his studio. He was 93 years old.

The founder of Moriyama Teshima Architects (MTA), Moriyama will be remembered for contributions such as the Ontario Science Centre, Canadian War Museum, and Bata Shoe Museum that were emblematic of his humanitarian commitments, personal experiences with multiculturalism, and social philosophy.

The Bata Shoe Museum. Image: Ali Eminov via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)

He studied architecture and planning at both the University of Toronto and McGill University before practicing independently until being joined by Ted Teshima in 1970. The pair then went on to garner acclaim internationally over their designs for the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, Etihad Museum, and the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, which was completed in Riyadh in 1999. Several major awards followed, and Moriyama ended his career wi...

Reporting from Toronto: Li Xiaodong wins inaugural Moriyama RAIC International Prize for the Liyuan Library

2014-10-13T14:05:00-04:00

Designed to inspire Canadian architects and raise the level of ambition in Canadian architectural culture, the inaugural 2014 Moriyama RAIC International Prize of $100,000 CAD has been awarded to Liyuan Library, a dramatic and beautiful project in Jiaojiehe China. The building is a simply detailed, glazed volume screened by locally sourced wood twigs, set in a stunning rural landscape. Designed to make a big impact in its social context, the community-run facility is building its collection asking visitors to donate two books for each one they borrow. The award is for a “single, transformative work of architecture”.

The award was founded by esteemed Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama and this year´s prize was judged by jurors Brian Mackay-Lyons, Patricia Patkau, Bing Thom, Maxime Alexis-Frappier, Barry Johns and Edward Cullinan. The submission guidelines were surprisingly open: any building, anywhere, any program, any size, by architects or designers. The main stipulation was tha...

Raymond Moriyama and RAIC announce $100K Canadian prize for world's best building

2014-04-03T14:14:00-04:00

There's a new architecture prize in town and it's loaded. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) Foundation and distinguished Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama announced today the launch of the Moriyama RAIC International Prize, a biennial award for the best building or project in the world. Now one of the world's largest architectural prizes, it consists of CAD$100,000 and a sculpture designed by Canadian designer Wei Yew -- perhaps making it a potential rival to the prestigious Pritzker Prize.

Moriyama and RAIC established the award in effort to raise the international stature of RAIC and the work of Canadian architects. Moriyama first thought of the idea in 1976 while on a three-month walk in the footsteps of Buddha through India and Nepal.

The prize is open to any architect, firm, or collaboration in the world for an outstanding building or project. It may also be granted to a non-architect for an exceptional contribution to architecture. The winner will be selected ...