TheByte

Mikael · 04-28-2009, 02:15 PM

Apr 12, 2009

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Switzerland's Peter Zumthor was on Sunday named as the winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the industry's most prestigious annual award.

Zumthor, 65, will receive his honor, often described as the "Nobel of Architecture," at a ceremony in Buenos Aires on May 29, where he will be presented with a bronze medallion and a 100,000-dollar grant.

Thomas J. Pritzker, chairman of the Los Angeles-based Hyatt Foundation which oversees the award, said in a statement Zumthor was chosen in recognition of work that was "focused, uncompromising and exceptionally determined."

"All of Peter Zumthor's buildings have a strong, timeless presence," Pritzker said. "He has a rare talent of combining clear and rigorous thought with a truly poetic dimension, resulting in works that never cease to inspire."

Although most of Zumthor's works are found in Switzerland, the architect has designed projects in Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, England, Spain, Norway, Finland and the United States.

Among Zumthor's most famous works are the Thermal Baths in Vals, Switzerland, often described as his masterpiece, while his Field Chapel to Saint Nikolause von der Flue near Cologne, Germany has also won plaudits.

The Pritzker jury singled out both of those projects as well as Cologne's Kolumba Museum, described as a "startling contemporary work ... one that is completely at ease with its many layers of history."

Zumthor described his award Sunday as a "wonderful recognition of the architectural work we have done in the last 20 year."

"That a body of work as small as ours is recognized in the professional world makes us feel proud and should give much hope to young professionals that if they strive for quality in their work it might become visible without any special promotion," he said.

Zumthor's award marks only the second time in 30 years that talent from Switzerland has been honored following the victory of Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron in 2001.

AFP: Zumthor wins Pritzker, 'Nobel of Architecture'

Rob · 04-29-2009, 12:20 AM

Well deserved.

He has been very influential in the past few years -- he has many imitators too.

I love his work.

04-28-2009, 02:15 PM	#1
Mikael Fanatic Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,836 Thanks: 828 Thanked 415 Times in 233 Posts	Zumthor wins Pritzker, 'Nobel of Architecture' Apr 12, 2009 LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Switzerland's Peter Zumthor was on Sunday named as the winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the industry's most prestigious annual award. Zumthor, 65, will receive his honor, often described as the "Nobel of Architecture," at a ceremony in Buenos Aires on May 29, where he will be presented with a bronze medallion and a 100,000-dollar grant. Thomas J. Pritzker, chairman of the Los Angeles-based Hyatt Foundation which oversees the award, said in a statement Zumthor was chosen in recognition of work that was "focused, uncompromising and exceptionally determined." "All of Peter Zumthor's buildings have a strong, timeless presence," Pritzker said. "He has a rare talent of combining clear and rigorous thought with a truly poetic dimension, resulting in works that never cease to inspire." Although most of Zumthor's works are found in Switzerland, the architect has designed projects in Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, England, Spain, Norway, Finland and the United States. Among Zumthor's most famous works are the Thermal Baths in Vals, Switzerland, often described as his masterpiece, while his Field Chapel to Saint Nikolause von der Flue near Cologne, Germany has also won plaudits. The Pritzker jury singled out both of those projects as well as Cologne's Kolumba Museum, described as a "startling contemporary work ... one that is completely at ease with its many layers of history." Zumthor described his award Sunday as a "wonderful recognition of the architectural work we have done in the last 20 year." "That a body of work as small as ours is recognized in the professional world makes us feel proud and should give much hope to young professionals that if they strive for quality in their work it might become visible without any special promotion," he said. Zumthor's award marks only the second time in 30 years that talent from Switzerland has been honored following the victory of Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron in 2001. AFP: Zumthor wins Pritzker, 'Nobel of Architecture'

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Construction of Worlds Highest Bridge. Architecture and Design.	Alx	Architecture	17	05-31-2006 07:57 AM

04-29-2009, 12:20 AM	#2
Rob Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,618 Thanks: 892 Thanked 719 Times in 401 Posts	Well deserved. He has been very influential in the past few years -- he has many imitators too. I love his work.

Search Cloud