Chilean Architect Alejandro Aravena Wins Prestigious Pritzker Prize
One of Chile's most celebrated designers Alejandro Aravena bagged the prestigious 2016 Pritzker Architecture Prize for his wide variety of work. Considered the Nobel Prize for the field of architecture, the award is a great honor that highlighted his abilities to incorporate design principles with social responsibility, sustainability and economic restraints.
According to a report from Fox News, the 48-year-old architect was the fourth Latin American to be recognized by the Pritzker award body. Some of his well-known projects include buildings for Santiago's Universidad Catolica de Chile, such as the UC Innovation Center - Anacleto Angelini , the Siamese Towers, the Medical School, the School of Architecture and the Mathematics School.
While Aravena is universally recognized for his diverse architectural feats in his native country and overseas, he won the jury over with his commitment to remain involved in public service through his body of work.
"Alejandro Aravena epitomizes the revival of a more socially engaged architect, especially in his long-term commitment to tackling the global housing crisis and fighting for a better urban environment for all," the jury explained in the citation from Arch Daily. "He has a deep understanding of both architecture and civil society, as is reflected in his writing, his activism and his designs."
Fox News revealed that the Hyatt Foundation sponsors the prestigious prize and president Tom Pritzker praised Aravena for practicing "architecture as an artful endeavor in private commissions and in designs for the public realm and epitomizes the revival of a more socially engaged architect."
He continued that the renowned designer is recognized for creating built work that offers opportunity to poverty stricken citizens, while keeping natural disasters and energy consumption in mind. Through his work and advocacies, Aravena is able to lead as an example in practicing his craft to affect people's lives positively.
Aravena heads a Santiago-based firm called Elemental that's focused on creating socially relevant projects, according to a report from New York Times. When he and former colleague Andrés Iacobelli started the firm, they were interested in creating for the public.
"If we believe we're good designers, why not try to apply our skills to issues that matter?" Aravena said. "Social housing is a difficult question and it deserves professional quality, not professional charity."
After being recognized with a Pritzker, the architect revealed that he's looking forward to experiment more after earning the freedom to blaze more trails in architecture and design. Instead of being pressured, he explained the team's load is even lighter now with nothing else to prove in the field.
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