French architects Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal of Lacaton & Vassal have been awarded the 2021 Pritzker Architecture Prize, widely considered one of the industry's highest honors.
The prize jury praised the architects' ongoing commitment to sustainability through their reverence for pre-existing structures, "conceiving projects by first taking inventory of what already exists."
The 2021 jury citation states, in part: "Not only have they defined an architectural approach that renews the legacy of modernism, but they have also proposed an adjusted definition of the very profession of architecture. The modernist hopes and dreams to improve the lives of many are reinvigorated through their work that responds to the climatic and ecological emergencies of our time, as well as social urgencies, particularly in the realm of urban housing. They accomplish this through a powerful sense of space and materials that creates architecture as strong in its forms as in its convictions, as transparent in its aesthetic as in its ethics."
"This year, more than ever, we have felt that we are part of humankind as a whole. Be it for health, political or social reasons, there is a need to build a sense of collectiveness. Like in any interconnected system, being fair to the environment, being fair to humanity, is being fair to the next generation," commented Alejandro Aravena, Chair of the Pritzker Architecture Prize Jury. "Lacaton and Vassal are radical in their delicacy and bold through their subtleness, balancing a respectful yet straightforward approach to the built environment."
"Good architecture is open — open to life, open to enhance the freedom of anyone, where anyone can do what they need to do," said Anne Lacaton. "It should not be demonstrative or imposing, but it must be something familiar, useful and beautiful, with the ability to quietly support the life that will take place within it."
Jean-Philippe Vassal added: "Our work is about solving constraints and problems, and finding spaces that can create uses, emotions and feelings. At the end of this process and all of this effort, there must be lightness and simplicity, when all that has been before was so complex."
Lacaton and Vassal will join the Pritzker's honorary list of laureates, which in recent years included Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara of Grafton Architects (who collectively won the 2020 prize), Arata Isozaki (2019), Balkrishna Doshi (2018), RCR Arquitectes co-founders Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem, and Ramon Vilalta (2017), Alejandro Aravena (2016), the late Frei Otto (2015), Shigeru Ban (2014), Toyo Ito (2013), and Wang Shu (2012).
19 Comments
This is awesome!
Called it!!! Love their work.
Good to know we have people here who know what they are talking about! I am delighted they won the prize. Must have been a great jury.
Yes, I fully agree with your comment. I think everybody who enjoys good architecture is happy, except for the Dezeen users. Look what they have commented on Lacaton & Vassal for being awarded the Pritzker Prize
https://www.dezeen.com/2021/03/16/anne-lacaton-jean-philippe-vassal-pritzker-architecture-prize-2021/
Mono, you've called them already for last years' P. or even before that iirc...any predictions for next year?
glad there's a movement away from the old guard starchitect obsession.
Hmmm. Didn’t see that one coming
This will make the yimbys and mcurbanists unhappy. architecture has always taken a more thoughtful approach, or at least good architecture. will be funny to see the same NYT critics who look the other way at real estate teardowns praise the social narrative here. corrupt hypocrites.
The JP Morgan Chase building, designed by a woman architect and a NYC landmark, is being torn town only a couple of years after being totally remodeled and brought up to LEED-Platinum standard. And the NY AIA is quite OK with the destruction.
Some Harvard MBA figured out how to make more money by tearing it down.
Yeah, this is a travesty.
Next year will be David Adjaye,
still, believe the world needs a black architect Pritzker Prize winner! That will mean so much to them and will have such a meaningful impact on the whole architectural community...
Are you suggesting that they pick someone based on the color of their skin? That’s very dumb. It’s a merit based prize. I think he should be a top choice because he’s a damn good architect.
He won't win, too big of a name at this point. The jury likes to support less commercial architects.
Uggh. I posted the same news failing to notice this thread.
Pritzker should change the rules regarding the recipient having to be still alive and award the prize to Paul Revere Williams. Long overdue. His ability to work within different historical styles, as well as modern, would be a sorely needed wake-up call to more than a few architects.
Somethings need to be torn down but I love the idea of not tearing down anything. Congratulations!!!
Positing evaluation of the work as a paradigm that polarizes criticism as aficionados of starchitecture in opposition to advocates of socially responsible architecture is not knowledgeable at all. Said advocates do not articulate criteria for judgment of the work, except for the implication that intent is sufficient. "We meant well" will ever be a cri de retraite.
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