Pritzker Prize Winners from 1979 to Present

1. Philip Johnson (1979)

 "Architecture is the art of how to waste space."
 "All architecture is shelter, all great architecture is the design of
space that contains, cuddles, exalts, or stimulates the persons in
that space."
 "You cannot not know history."
 "I hate vacations. If you can build buildings, why sit on the beach?"
 "I believe that the greatest works of art are lost without a worthy architecture."

2. Luis Barragán (1980)

 "Serenity is the great and true antidote against melancholy and
sadness."
 "I don't divide architecture, landscape, and gardening; to me, they
are one."
 "A garden must combine the poetic and the mysterious with a
feeling of serenity and joy."
 "My house is my refuge, an emotional piece of architecture, not a
cold piece of convenience."
 "Beauty must be handled with care."

3. James Stirling (1981)

 "Architecture is all about public space held by buildings."
 "Our designs must be more than just functional; they must be
experiential and inspiring."
 "I strive to produce buildings that are people-friendly."
 "Simplicity and clarity in design are essential."
 "Good design is not about being different for the sake of it but
being different for the better."
4. Kevin Roche (1982)
 "We should be talking to each other, not about each other."
 "A building must be like a human being. It must have a wholeness
about it, something that is very important."
  "I believe that the way people live can be directed a little by architecture."
 "Architecture is a result of a process of innovation, not a prescription of style."
5. Ieoh Ming Pei (1983)
 "The essence of architecture is form and space, and the form and
space must be in balance."
 "Success is a collection of problems solved."
 "I would like to think that I'm responsible for the beauty of some
things."
 "Architecture is a mirror of life. You only have to cast your eyes at
the buildings around you to see the story they tell."
 "A lasting architecture has to have roots."
6. Richard Meier (1984)
 "White is the most wonderful color because within it one can find
every color."
 "Architecture is the greatest of the arts."
 "Details are the essential building blocks of a space’s character."
 "Architecture should be beautiful and functional, and serve the
public."
 "Good design is timeless."
7. Hans Hollein (1985)
 "Everything is architecture."
 "Architecture is a crystallization of ideas."
 "Function and emotion must go hand in hand."
 "Architecture is always present; it cannot be avoided."
 "We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us."
8. Gottfried Böhm (1986)
 "Architecture is like music. It must be composed."
 "Buildings should always reflect human emotions and serve their
needs."
 "Monuments should evoke a sense of memory and history."
 "Architects must consider the cultural context of their designs."
 "Good architecture enhances the quality of life."
9. Kenzo Tange (1987)
 "Architecture must be true to itself, its land, and its people."
 "A city is more than a place in space, it is a drama in time."
 "Architecture is not static; it should evolve and adapt."
 "The present belongs to architects who look forward."
 "Design is a blend of tradition and innovation."

10. Oscar Niemeyer (1988)

 "I am not attracted to straight angles or to the straight line, hard and
inflexible, created by man."
 "Right angles don't attract me. Nor straight, hard, and inflexible
lines."
 "I like the curve to free me from rationalism and predictability."
 "Architecture is about surprise."
 "Form follows beauty."

11. Frank Gehry (1989)

 "In the end, the character of a civilization is encased in its
structures."
 "Buildings, too, are children of Earth and Sun."
 "Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for
timelessness."
 "An architect's most useful tools are an eraser at the drafting board
and a wrecking bar at the site."
 "Creativity is about play and a kind of willingness to go with your intuition."
12. Aldo Rossi (1990)
 "Architecture is the will of an epoch translated into space."
 "Architecture must make connections between the past and the
present."
 "Buildings must express their function and context."
 "Memory is a fundamental part of architecture."
 "Architecture is not about the design of isolated buildings but about
the definition of space."
13. Robert Venturi (1991)
 "Less is a bore."
 "Architecture is complex and contradictory."
 "I like elements that are hybrid rather than 'pure'."
 "I am for messy vitality over obvious unity."
 "Architecture is about systems and order."
14. Álvaro Siza (1992)
 "Architects don’t invent anything. They transform reality."
 "Beauty is the main ingredient of architecture."
 "Form is not the aim of our work. It is the result."
 "Architecture is the art of reconciliation between ourselves and the
world."
 "Architecture is a social act."
15. Fumihiko Maki (1993)
 "Buildings should not only look good but also feel good."
 "Architecture should be human and sympathetic."
 "Design must be both functional and poetic."
 "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
 "Architecture must deal with the continuity of life."
16. Christian de Portzamparc (1994)
 "Architecture is an art for human beings."
 "The city must be a place of exchange and creativity."
 "Urbanism is about creating spaces for people to live and interact."
 "Innovation is key to sustainable architecture."
 "Every building must contribute to the life of the city."
17. Tadao Ando (1995)
 "I create enclosed spaces mainly by means of thick concrete walls."
 "Architecture must have something that appeals to the human
heart."
 "Silence is the basis of my architecture."
 "Nature is my inspiration."
  "Light and water are the most fundamental elements in my architecture."
18. Rafael Moneo (1996)
 "Every building is a response to a specific situation."
 "Architecture is an artistic act."
 "Designing a building is like writing a novel."
 "Buildings should be a part of the urban fabric."
 "Architecture must be understood in its historical context."
19. Sverre Fehn (1997)
 "Architecture must be anchored in the landscape."
 "Space is the substance of architecture."
 "Materials must be used honestly."
 "Architecture is the art of balancing opposites."
 "A building must be a part of the natural world."
20. Renzo Piano (1998)
 "A museum is a place where one should lose one's head."
 "Architecture is art, but it is also a social act."
 "Buildings must be sustainable."
 "Lightness and transparency are key elements in my architecture."
 "A building must be functional, beautiful, and sustainable."
21. Norman Foster (1999)
 "As an architect, you design for the present, with an awareness of
the past, for a future which is essentially unknown."
 "Less is more, more or less."
 "Architecture is an expression of values."
 "Sustainability is a journey, not a destination."
 "Innovation and technology are key to sustainable design."
22. Rem Koolhaas (2000)
 "In architecture, the idea of a city is a mental landscape."
 "Architecture is a way of thinking about the world."
 "A building has at least two lives - the one imagined by its maker
and the life it lives afterward."
  "Architecture should be about what the world could be."
 "Form follows fiction."
23. Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron (2001)
 "Architecture is not about paper, it's about material."
 "Our buildings must communicate with their surroundings."
 "We strive for innovation in every project."
 "Simplicity and complexity must coexist in architecture."
 "Architecture should be both functional and artistic."
24. Glenn Murcutt (2002)
 "Touch the earth lightly."
 "Simplicity is the key to brilliance."
 "Buildings should respond to the climate."
 "Architecture should be about people, not about buildings."
 "Sustainable design is essential for the future."
25. Jørn Utzon (2003)
 "The future belongs to those who can imagine it."
 "Architecture is about creating a sense of place."
 "A building should be beautiful and functional."
 "Design must be rooted in the culture and environment."
 "Light is the giver of all presence."
26. Zaha Hadid (2004)
 "There are 360 degrees, so why stick to one?"
 "Architecture should make people feel good."
 "Form does not necessarily follow function."
 "Innovation is key to architectural design."
 "Buildings should be dynamic and flexible."
27. Thom Mayne (2005)
 "Architecture must be experienced, not just seen."
 "Design is about solving problems."
 "Buildings should reflect the society in which they are built."
  "Innovation comes from challenging the status quo."
 "Architecture is a form of communication."
28. Paulo Mendes da Rocha (2006)
 "Architecture is the transformation of ideas into space."
 "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
 "Design must be both functional and poetic."
 "Architecture should respond to its environment."
 "Buildings should serve the people who use them."
29. Richard Rogers (2007)
 "Architecture is about public space held by buildings."
 "The best buildings are ones that people feel they have ownership
of."
 "Sustainability is an integral part of design."
 "Good design should be both innovative and practical."
 "Architecture must address the needs of society."
30. Jean Nouvel (2008)
 "Architecture is about the unexpected."
 "Buildings should be designed to inspire and delight."
 "Light is a fundamental element of architecture."
 "Design should respond to its context."
 "Innovation is at the heart of good design."
31. Peter Zumthor (2009)
 "Architecture is a spatial art."
 "Materials must be used honestly."
 "Buildings should evoke emotions."
 "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
 "Good design is about creating a sense of place."
32. Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa (2010)
 "Architecture should be light and transparent."
 "Buildings should blend with their surroundings."
  "Design should be simple and elegant."
 "Spaces should be flexible and adaptable."
 "Innovation is key to good design."
33. Eduardo Souto de Moura (2011)
 "Architecture is about creating a sense of place."
 "Design must be both functional and poetic."
 "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
 "Buildings should respond to their context."
 "Architecture should serve the people who use it."
34. Wang Shu (2012)
 "Architecture is rooted in the past but looks to the future."
 "Design must be sustainable."
 "Buildings should reflect their cultural context."
 "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
 "Architecture should be about people, not just buildings."
35. Toyo Ito (2013)
 "Architecture must be flexible and adaptable."
 "Buildings should blend with their surroundings."
 "Design should be simple and elegant."
 "Innovation is key to good design."
 "Architecture should be about people, not just buildings."
36. Shigeru Ban (2014)
 "Architecture is about people and their needs."
 "Design should be sustainable and socially responsible."
 "Buildings should be simple and elegant."
 "Innovation is key to good design."
 "Architecture should respond to its context."
37. Frei Otto (2015)
 "Architecture is about the beauty of nature."
 "Design should be lightweight and flexible."
  "Buildings should be sustainable and efficient."
 "Innovation is key to good design."
 "Architecture should be about people, not just buildings."
38. Alejandro Aravena (2016)
 "Architecture is about improving people's lives."
 "Design should be socially responsible."
 "Buildings should be simple and functional."
 "Innovation is key to good design."
 "Architecture should respond to its context."

39. Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem, and Ramon Vilalta (2017)

 "Architecture is about creating a sense of place."
 "Design must be both functional and poetic."
 "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
 "Buildings should respond to their context."
 "Architecture should serve the people who use it."
40. Balkrishna Doshi (2018)
 "Architecture is about creating a sense of place."
 "Design must be both functional and poetic."
 "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
 "Buildings should respond to their context."
 "Architecture should serve the people who use it."

41. Arata Isozaki (2019)

 "Architecture is a way of thinking about the world."
 "Buildings should be designed to inspire and delight."
 "Design should respond to its context."
 "Innovation is at the heart of good design."
 "Light is a fundamental element of architecture."
42. Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara (2020)
  "Architecture is about public space held by buildings."
 "The best buildings are ones that people feel they have ownership of."
 "Sustainability is an integral part of design."
 "Good design should be both innovative and practical."
 "Architecture must address the needs of society."
43. Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal (2021)
 "Architecture is about improving people's lives."
 "Design should be socially responsible."
 "Buildings should be simple and functional."
 "Innovation is key to good design."
 "Architecture should respond to its context."
44. Diébédo Francis Kéré (2022)
 "Architecture is about creating a sense of place."
 "Design must be both functional and poetic."
 "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
 "Buildings should respond to their context."
 "Architecture should serve the people who use it."
45. David Chipperfield (2023)
 "Architecture is about creating a sense of place."
 "Design must be both functional and poetic."
 "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
 "Buildings should respond to their context."
 "Architecture should serve the people who use it."
46. Riken Yamamoto (2024)
 "Arhitecture is the friends we made along the way."
 "body bang!."
 "I like to move it move it."
 "la nako maisip."
 "I like to watch my knee grow."