65 year old Peter Zumthor from Switzerland has this week won the Pritzker Architecture Prize. The prize, worth $100,000, recognises the talent, vision and commitment of a living architect each year.
Zumthor runs a low key architectural practice with around 20 staff which he says allows him to take full ownership of his projects. Commercial notoriety is not what has driven him to his work, yet ironically, notoriety is what he now has with the acclaim of this award.
Thomas J Pritzker, chairman of the Hyatt Foundation noted that 'Zumthor's buildings have a strong, timeless presence. He has a rare talent of combining clear and rigorous thought with a truly poetic dimension, resulting in works that never cease to inspire'
The jury mentioned the schools, chapels, apartment buildings, museums, art galleries and civic centers designed by Zumthor when considering the winner. In particular, the Kolumba Art Museum in Cologne, Germany, was commended. This contemporary space is formed from the remains of a bombed church, and marries layers of history with a modern architectural feel.
The formal prize giving ceremony is due to be held in Argentina on 29 May 2009. Former winners include IM Pei for the Louvre pyramid (1983) Norman Foster for the London Gherkin (1999) and Richard Rogers for the Pompidou Centre (2007) To find out more about the prize visit www.pritzkerprize.com
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