Pritzker Prize

Pritzker Prize

▪ international architectural award

      international award given annually to recognize the contributions of a living architect. It has often been called the Nobel Prize of architecture.

      The Pritzker Prize was founded in 1979 by Jay and Cindy Pritzker of Chicago, who funded it as a foundation through their family business, the Hyatt Corporation. The original stated goal of the prize was to push architecture and architects into the public's awareness and to support the notion that buildings have a real influence on people's lives. The prize was designed to honour architects for their complete body of built work.

      Since 1979, every year an independent jury of about eight people—composed of critics, practicing architects, and patrons of the arts—has decided upon the winner. There are no set terms for jurors, who become part of the jury by invitation and step down when they wish. Notable jurors have included J. Carter Brown, former director of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.; Italian businessman Giovanni Agnelli; architectural critic Ada Louise Huxtable; art historian Kenneth Clark (Clark, Kenneth Mackenzie Clark, Baron); and major architects such as Philip Johnson (Johnson, Philip C.) (the first recipient of the prize), Maki Fumihiko, Frank O. Gehry (Gehry, Frank O.), and Cesar Pelli.

      Any licensed architect may nominate a candidate by communicating with the executive director of the jury. The director additionally actively seeks out nominations from critics, academics, professionals in related fields, and the jurors. As part of the deliberation process, which takes place at the beginning of the year, jurors visit many buildings by architects under consideration for the prize. This fieldwork is an especially positive aspect of the prize and distinguishes it from other awards that simply rely on photos.

       Pritzker Architecture Prize winnersThe Pritzker Prize carries a purse of $100,000 and, until 1987, a limited-edition Henry Moore (Moore, Henry) sculpture; this was replaced in subsequent years by a bronze commemorative medal. The prize is presented in a ceremony, usually in May of each year, at an architecturally significant site. On only two occasions have two winners been chosen: 1988 (to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the prize) and 2001 (to recognize both partners of an architectural firm). Past winners are among the most important figures in late 20th- and early 21st-century architecture. For Pritzker Prize winners, see Table (Pritzker Architecture Prize winners).

Additional Reading
Martha Thorne and Colin Amery (eds.), The Pritzker Architecture Prize: The First Twenty Years (1999).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Pritzker Prize — The Pritzker Architecture Prize is awarded annually by the Hyatt Foundation to honor a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant …   Wikipedia

  • Pritzker Architecture Prize — Awarded for A living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of… …   Wikipedia

  • Pritzker family — ▪ American business family       American family prominent in business and philanthropy during the later 20th century.       The family s fortunes began with Abram Nicholas Pritzker (b. January 6, 1896, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. d. February 8, 1986 …   Universalium

  • PRITZKER — PRITZKER, U.S. family in business and philanthropy. One of the world s wealthiest and most philanthropic families, the Pritzker clan was moving into its fifth generation in the early years of the 21st century with fortunes made in hotels, Levitz… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Pritzker family — The Pritzker family is one of America s wealthiest, and has been near the top of Forbes magazine s America s Richest Families list since the magazine began in 1982.The family is most famous for owning the Hyatt hotel chain, and the Marmon Group,… …   Wikipedia

  • Pritzker School of Medicine — Infobox University name = Pritzker School of Medicine established = 1927 type = Academic unit of the University of Chicago dean = James L. Madara, MD faculty = city = Chicago state = IL country = USA campus = Urban postgrad = 419 website =… …   Wikipedia

  • Pritzker-Preis — Der Pritzker Preis (englisch Pritzker Architecture Prize) ist der weltweit renommierteste Preis im Bereich der Architektur. Er wurde 1979 von dem US Amerikaner Jay A. Pritzker (Besitzer u. a. der Hyatt Hotelkette) und dessen Gattin… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pritzker Architektur-Preis — Der Pritzker Preis (englisch Pritzker Architecture Prize) ist der weltweit renommierteste Preis im Bereich der Architektur. Er wurde 1979 von dem US Amerikaner Jay A. Pritzker (Besitzer u. a. der Hyatt Hotelkette) und dessen Gattin Cindy… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • prize — prize1 /pruyz/, n. 1. a reward for victory or superiority, as in a contest or competition. 2. something that is won in a lottery or the like. 3. anything striven for, worth striving for, or much valued. 4. something seized or captured, esp. an… …   Universalium

  • Pritzker, Jay — ▪ 2000       American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Hyatt hotel chain and in 1979 endowed what became the most prestigious award in architecture, the $100,000 Pritzker Architectural Prize, often referred to as the Nobel Prize of… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”