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Arata Isozaki named 2019 laureate of the Pritzker Prize

05.03.19

Japanese architect Arata Isozaki has been named 2019 laureate of the Pritzker Prize, architecture’s most prestigious award

Isozaki won the Pritzker Architecture Prize on Tuesday, a lifetime achievement award often referred to as the Nobel Prize for architects.

According to the prize’s judges, it was in part Isozaki’s endless attempts to rebuild — to make something new from old forms, to experiment on the edge of what’s possible — that earned him the honour. The jury’s praise of Isozaki’s work was effusive:

“Clearly, he is one of the most influential figures in contemporary world architecture – on a constant search, not afraid to change and try new ideas. His architecture rests on profound understanding, not only of architecture but also of philosophy, history, theory and culture,” reads the citation of the Pritzker jury, chaired by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. “He has brought together East and West, not through mimicry or as a collage, but through the forging of new paths.”

“…in his search for meaningful architecture, he created buildings of great quality that to this day defy categorizations, reflect his constant evolution, and are always fresh in their approach.”

“He never merely replicated the status quo but challenged it,” the Pritzker jury wrote. “And in his search for meaningful architecture, he created buildings of great quality that to this day defy categorizations, reflect his constant evolution, and are always fresh in their approach.”

FMI: Pritzker Prize – Arata Isozaki