Archinect - News

Teddy Cruz: A Tale of Two Cities

2018-03-12T09:00:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by the Vilcek Foundation

When Vilcek Prizewinner Teddy Cruz first emigrated from Guatemala, he had no idea that San Diego was a border town. He did not speak English, and his relatives had warned him that going downtown would be risky and dangerous.

"It took me almost a year to exit this Truman Show," he says. He was surprised to realize that not twenty minutes away from his new home were vibrant immigrant neighborhoods along the U.S.-Mexico border, and, just on the other side of the wall, the city of Tijuana.

It was a sharp contrast to the staid, homogenous suburbs he was living in, and Teddy began to cross the border often to spend time in Tijuana. "The texture, the ruggedness, of a place like Tijuana reminded me of my own country," he says. "I think that oscillation back and forth between these very different ways of constructing cities [is] where my sensibilities began...as an architect."

That realization, however, would come years later. Teddy had im...

Immigrant Architects Honored with 2018 Vilcek Prizes

2018-02-12T09:00:00-05:00

This post is brought to you by the Vilcek Foundation

The Vilcek Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Vilcek Prizes in the Arts and Humanities, this year recognizing the field of architecture. Awarded annually, the prizes call attention to the breadth of immigrant contributions to the American arts and sciences.

“The social, political, and cultural landscape of America has been shaped by generations of immigrant contributions,” says Marica Vilcek, co-founder and vice chairman of the Vilcek Foundation. “With the Vilcek Prizes in Architecture, we are pleased to recognize the many ways in which they have shaped its physical landscape as well—through bold, original designs, and through research that challenges the status quo, both in the building arts and in society.”

The Vilcek Prize in Architecture, which comes with a $100,000 cash prize, is awarded to architect and urban researcher Teddy Cruz, professor at University of California, San Diego, and director of desi...

The Vilcek Foundation announces three $50K awards for immigrant architects

2017-04-12T17:35:00-04:00

Established in 2000 to “honor the contributions of immigrants to the United States and to foster appreciation of the arts and sciences”, the Vilcek Foundation has just announced that a major new prize for architects is open for applications. Three winners will each receive $50,000 in unrestricted funding.

In order to qualify, applicants must have been born outside of the United States, be 38 years of age or younger, and hold a professional degree in architecture (or a related field). This includes professionals working in the fields of urban planning, landscape architecture, architectural engineering and architecture criticism.

Candidates must submit an application form, a CV, a portfolio, three short essays and proof of immigration status. A panel of experts will evaluate their portfolios and essays. Winners will be announced in February 2018. Submissions are open now. Head over here for more information.

Quilian Riano of DSGN AGNC awarded a Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise

2014-01-29T13:41:00-05:00

Announcing good news is a splendid way to kick off a Wednesday morning: our respected friend, long-time Archinect contributor and founder of DSGN AGNC, Quilian Riano, has been named today as one of three winners of the 2014 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in the Arts, this year focusing on design. Paired with a $35,000 cash prize, the annual awards recognize young immigrants who have had a significant impact on the American arts early in their career.

"We are delighted to recognize Quilian with a Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise," said Marica Vilcek, vice president of the Foundation. "His philosophical approach to urban planning and design addresses social justice needs and brings cohesion to the communities he works with."

In addition to Riano, Israeli-born material designer Neri Oxman was awarded the $100,000 Vilcek Prize. The other two Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise for Design were awarded to Iranian-born game designer Yasaman Hashemian and Togolese-born product designer Ma...