Pritzker Prize. Who are the French who have marked their architecture

Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal received the 2021 Pritzker Prize, the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in architecture

March 16, 202119:50

Greenhouse fans and heritage conservation activists, the French duo are recognized for their respectful interventions, the luminosity and the social and ecological character of their projects, more than thirty in Europe and Africa.

Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal they met in the 70’s while studying at the National School of Architecture of Bordeaux. They moved to Paris in 1987, where they set up the studio, Lacaton and Vassal, a creative factory that has developed cultural and academic architecture, social housing and public spaces.

The milestone of the study was the re-functionalization of the Tokyo Palace, a monumental building built in 1937 for the International Exhibition of Arts and Techniques in Modern Life, a few steps from the Eiffel Tower. In 2012 Lacaton and Vassal they were responsible for expanding this famous center of contemporary art in Paris. One of the principles applied was “to build modestly, to make the existing one sustainable”, a characteristic which represents the study. The expansion added dynamic circulation, preserved and optimized the entry of natural light and extended the exhibition area in order to generate spaces for “Share and debate ideas”, as recorded from their website lacatonvassal.com

The jury chaired by the Chilean architect since this year Alejandro Aravena (winner of the Pritzker in 2016) praised the virtues of the French study: “They are convinced that architecture is more than buildings, who can be humble and always caring, respectful and responsible, and who can have a great impact on our communities by contributing to the feeling that we are not alone ”. In addition, he underlined his environmental awareness and his responsibility in the face of the housing problem, among the arguments for giving them the 100,000 US dollars and the medal distributed by the prize established by the Pritzker family, owners of the Hyatt hotel chain.

Aligned with the principles of social architecture Anne (65) y Jean Philippe (67) They offer transformations that improve quality of life, maximize public spaces for fun, and run on the lowest possible budget. Less is more is its motto. In 1993 they built the family home under this premise Latapie House, in Burdeos, which he applied to the formula of large space and minimum cost.

Far from luxurious materials and organic typologies, the French have always opted for the low profile. The experience in Nigeria It marked them forever. In the 80s, they travel to Africa and immerse themselves in simple formats, structures integrated into the landscape, open and functional, built with local materials. Beautiful and modest. Since then, at least on the premise it is more, they have added to their projects that of “Keep it simple”, it’s simple. Appreciating the light, enjoying the outdoors, and honoring pre-existing constructions have been incorporated into its building resource catalog.

“The transformation it is an opportunity to do more and better with what already exists. Demolition is an easy and short-term decision. It is a waste of energy, matter and history. In addition, it has a very negative social impact. For us, it is an act of violence, ”said Anne Lacaton in an article published by the Harvard Gazette,“ They build, but modestly ”.

In 2019 they won the award Mies van der Rohe Al best building on the continent, another important award from the European Economic Community. It was for the reform of the 530 block of social housing in Bordeaux, a project which respected the allocated budget and all the expenses were published on its website. The housing complex was added prefabricated balconies, enlarged windows and designed closed winter gardens. They didn’t even touch the apartments: they talked to people and listened to their wishes to keep them intact.

With the project of the Place Léon Aucoc in Bordeaux They did the same: they asked and took note of when the city council ordered a reform. Instead of planes, they delivered the survey results to homes. The neighbors were very happy with this space, so they suggested increasing the cleaning, one of the most recurring topics of the discussions.

“Good architecture is open – open to life, open to reinforce everyone’s freedom, where everyone can do what they have to do. It doesn’t have to be demonstrative or imposing, but it should be something familiar, useful and beautiful, with the ability to calmly support the life that will unfold there, ”said Anne Lacaton upon hearing the news.

We never see the existing as a problem. We are looking at it with positive eyes because there is an opportunity to do more with what we already have, ”says Lacaton. “We went to places where buildings were said to have been demolished and we met people, families who were attached to their homes, even though the situation was not the best. Most of the time, they opposed the demolition because they wanted to stay in their neighborhood. It’s a question of kindness, ”continues Vassal.

Currently, the study is working on improving an old paris hospital transformed into 138 apartments, mixed-use buildings (hotel and business premises) in Toulouse, and a mid-size building of 40 residential units in Hamburg, Germany.

“Good architecture is a space where something special is happening, where you want to smile, just because you’re there “, says Vassal of the award’s official website, pritzerprize.com” It’s also the relationship with the city, a relationship with the environment and the place to be happy, where people feel good and at ease. A space that generates emotions ”.

While last year the jury selected the study Grafton Architects, Irish architects Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara, the Pritzkers do not tend to consider gender issues. They do not broaden their gaze to Latin America either. Since 1979, only four women have been honored. The first was Zaha Hadid, the Anglo-Iraqi architect who only received it in 2004. Then it was his turn to Kazuyo Sejima, in 2010, although she shared it with her husband Ryue Nishizawa, co-founder of the SANAA studio, based in Tokyo. And in 2017, another shared prize appeared, that of Carme Pigem, with its partners from RCR Arquitectos (Rafael Aranda and Ramón Vilalta), from Girona.

With Latinos, they weren’t that contemplative either. Luis Barragán, from Mexico, received him in 1980. From Brazil, Oscar Niemeyer, in 1988, and Paulo Mendes da Rocha in 2006. Meanwhile, Alejandro Aravena (Chile), received him in 2016. Among the candidates featured Tatiana Bilbao, a Mexican architect. It would have been an opportunity to consider the gender perspective and consider Latin American architecture.