Pritzker Prize for Chilean architect

Noted Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena has been selected as the 2016 Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate.

This was announced by Tom Pritzker, chairman and president of the Hyatt Foundation, which sponsors the prize. The formal award ceremony for what has come to be known internationally as architecture’s highest honour will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on April 4.

The Pritzker Prize, established in 1979, is viewed as the ‘Nobel’ of architecture awards. Each year, the prize goes to a living architect whose work has contributed to humanity and the built environment. As the Pritzker laureate, Alejandro will receive a $100,000 grant and a bronze medallion at the award ceremony.

The 48-year-old architect becomes the 41st Pritzker laureate. He is the first winner from Chile and the fourth from Latin America. Speaking about Alejandro and his work, Tom Pritzker said that the jury had selected an architect who deepened our understanding of what is truly great design. He also said that Alejandro Aravena has pioneered a collaborative practice that produces powerful works of architecture and also addresses key challenges of the 21st century.

He added that Alejandro’s work gave economic opportunities to the less privileged, mitigated the effects of natural disasters, reduced energy consumption and provided welcoming public space.