Archinect - News

Toyo Ito announced as recipient for 2013 Pritzker Prize

2013-03-17T16:09:00-04:00

For nearly 40 years, Toyo Ito has pursued excellence. His work has not remained static and has never been predictable. He has been an inspiration and influenced the thinking of younger generations of architects both within his land and abroad.

Contrary to the popular choice of Steven Holl, in this year's Pritzker Bets thread in the Archinect forum, Toyo Ito takes the prestigious award. Credit goes to members jk3hl, miesian and helenakeys for their insightful predictions (or hopes, to be more accurate).

Steven Ward says, "Yep, there's def a grudge against Holl..."

There's no denying, however, that Toyo Ito is deserving of the Pritzker. Perhaps Holl's year is next.

Tower of Winds, 1986, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, Japan
Photo by Tomio Ohashi

The 2013 Pritzker Architecture Prize Ceremony Will Be Held in Boston at the John F. Kennedy Library.

Some comments from this year's jurors:

Toyo Ito, his manner, methodology, and generosity of mind and spirit to the younger generation of architects; as well as the brilliance of the constant innovation and execution of his work throughout his long and distinguished career, are qualities that those younger architects would do well to study. Toyo Ito is, quite simply, a ma...

Starchitect Switcheroo: Christian de Portzamparc Ditched by Developer on Manhattan Megaproject

2012-09-24T15:28:00-04:00

Neither is this switcheroo exactly new. That is a big part of the reason the City Planning Commission works so hard to ensure certain design flourishes and details in ambitious projects like the Riverside Center.

Yet again—the World Trade Center, Atlantic Yards, the Williamsburg waterfront—a New York City developer has dumped his high design stalking horse when it actually comes time to build their project. This time, Christian de Portzamparc was used to get the eight-acre Riverside Center through the difficult public review process. Now, local hacks SLCE will be finishing the design work. Is this a Pritzker bait and switch or just how the game is played?

Pritzker Architecture Prize ceremonies head to China

2011-10-27T16:58:57-04:00

The 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize Ceremony will be held in Beijing, China on May 25, 2012, it was disclosed today In a joint announcement by Guo Jinlong, the Mayor of Beijing, China and Thomas J. Pritzker, Chairman of The Hyatt Foundation.

Justice Stephen G. Breyer Talks About the Pritzker Jury

2011-10-06T11:42:18-04:00

Mr. Gehry predicted the panel will benefit from Justice Breyer’s sense of calm. “People have biases,” he said. “And having a guy like that, who is used to that kind of negotiation and discussion, could be very interesting. He’s a real straight shooter.” Justice Breyer said he hopes to advocate for high-quality design in government buildings.

Justice Stephen Breyer, Zaha Hadid join Pritzker Prize jury

2011-09-14T15:21:30-04:00

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will join the jury for the Pritzker Prize, architecture's top honor, Pritzker officials announced this morning. Joining Breyer on the eight-person jury will be architect Zaha Hadid, who won the prize in 2004.

Obama touts Chicago architecture, Pritzker family in Pritzker Architecture Prize speech.

2011-06-03T11:51:11-04:00

Referring to Tom Pritzker, Obama said, "Now, as Tom mentioned, my interest in architecture goes way back. There was a time when I thought I could be an architect, where I expected to be more creative than I turned out, so I had to go into politics instead."

Portuguese Architect Eduardo Souto de Moura Wins 2011 Pritzker Prize

2011-03-28T13:39:50-04:00

Eduardo Souto de Moura from Porto, Portugal is the 2011 laureate of the Pritzker Prize, the professions highest honor. As a young architect, from 1974 to 1979, the now 58-year-old, worked in Alvaro Siza's office -- Siza having been the Pritzker Prize winner himself in 1992. This makes Moura the second Pritzker laureate to be chosen from Portugal.