The Pritzker Prize was founded in 1979 by Jay and Cindy Pritzker of Chicago. The couple funded it as a foundation through their family business, the Hyatt Corporation. The idea behind the prize was to push architecture and architects into the limelight. Also, the Pritzker Prize is aimed to support the notion that buildings have a real influence on people’s lives.

Each year, an independent jury of about eight persons gets to decide upon the winner. The jury is composed of critics, practicing architects, and patrons of the arts. Jurors become part of the jury by invitation and may 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; and famous architects such as Philip Johnson (the first recipient of the prize), Maki Fumihiko, Frank O. Gehry, and Cesar Pelli.

Who Can Make Nominations for the Prize?

Critics, academics, professionals in related fields, and jurors may nominate a candidate by communicating with the executive director of the jury. Also, any licensed architect can make nominations to the director. The jurors of the Pritzker prize embark on fieldwork to inspect many buildings by architects under consideration for the prize, unlike other awards that simply rely on photos. This exercise is done as part of the deliberation process, which takes place at the beginning of the year.  

What Does the Prize Entail?

The Pritzker Prize carries a purse of $100,000 and, until 1987, a limited-edition Henry Moore sculpture. In subsequent years, the sculpture was replaced by a bronze commemorative medal. The prize is presented in a ceremony, usually in May of each year, at an architecturally significant site. Past winners of the prize are among the most important figures in late 20th- and early 21st-century architecture.

Some laureates include the inaugural winner,  Philip C. Johnson, United States (1979), Johnson was cited for 50 years of imagination and vitality embodied in a myriad of museums, theaters, libraries, houses, gardens, and corporate structures; Luis Barragán, Mexico (1980); Hans Hollein, Australia (1995); Tange Kenzo Japan, (1987); Aldo Rossi, Italy (1990); Jean Nouvel, France (2008); Alejandro Aravena Chile (2016); Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara, Ireland (2020) and Francis Kéré, Burkina Faso (2022). In  2004, Zaha Hadid was the first female prize winner whiles Ryue Nishizawa became the youngest winner in 2010 at age 44.

The Pritzker is the most famous architectural award. It has recognized the works of most architects around the world.  This feat conforms to Jay and Cindy Pritzker’s original vision: to encourage and stimulate a much greater public awareness of buildings.

REFERENCE

Information from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pritzker-Prize and https://www.arch2o.com/5-architectural-awards/ was used in this story