Pritzker Prize: History

Jay and Cindy Pritzker, who intended to promote and inspire a better public knowledge of architecture and encourage more originality in the field, came up with the concept for the Pritzker Prize. The family with the name Pritzker is well-known for its extensive global commercial ventures. Based in Chicago, they are the owners of the Hyatt Hotels. The Pritzker family has long been admired for its contributions to cultural, scientific, and medical endeavors. So they started a prize ceremony to inspire the architect. The Pritzker Prize’s award, an official citation certificate, and bronze medallion are examples of the many processes and awards modeled after the Nobel Prize. Before 1987, winners were instead given a limited-edition Henry Moore sculpture.

Pritzker Prize: Award Ceremony

Every year, the award is given in a formal ceremony in a location with significant architectural history, often in May. The event’s site highlights the importance of the built environment and provides a unique setting for it. The award-giving committee travels around the world and finds architectural styles. There is no intentional relationship between the two as the ceremony sites are typically decided each year before the winner is chosen. International guests and local guests from the host countries attend the invitation-only ceremony. 

The actual award event often comprises statements by a dignitary from the host nation, remarks from the jury chairman, Tom Pritzker presenting the prize, and the laureate giving an acceptance speech. A bronze medallion and $100,000 are given to the winner. The bronze medallion that each Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate receives is built on designs by renowned Chicago architect Louis Sullivan, who is regarded as the father of skyscrapers.

Pritzker Prize: Significance

Pritzker Prize is an award that places a great value on the life of an architect. The more valuable the thing is, the more controversies surround it, and the Pritzker Prize also has to face all these controversies. In 2013, the student organization “Women in design” filed a petition on behalf of Denish Scott Brown to receive mutual recognition with her partner, past prize winner for 1991, Robert Venturi.
After the announcement of the Pritzker Prize winner of 2016, the question was raised as to what should be the base of the architecture; a societal task or an unconventional vision.

Pritzker Prize is a distinguished honor given yearly to a person, a couple, or a trio for their contributions to architecture. The late Jay A. and Cindy Pritzker established the award in 1979. Its goal is to recognize a living architect whose built work exemplifies a mix of ability, vision, and dedication that has resulted in substantial and sustained contributions to humanity and the built environment. Let’s get to know more about Pritzker Prize in this article.