The International Union for Architects (UIA) has revealed the winners of the 2017 UIA Prizes. The UIA Prizes and Gold Medal are handed by the union every three years, since 1961, to honor professional architects who have impacted the diverse sectors of the practice. After considering 46 nominations, received by the secretariat for this year, it was decided that the winner of the organization’s most prestigious prize, the UIA Gold Medal, for this year is Japanese architect Toyo Ito.
The 76-year-old architect has previously received numerous awards and honors, including the highly-esteemed Pritzker Prize in 2013. His works can be found in Spain, Mexico, Taiwan, and, most of all, his home country Japan. He, also, designed the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion for 2002 in Kensington Gardens, London.
Tama Art University Library / Toyo Ito & Associates. Image © Iwan Baan
Ito’s remarkable projects include Sendai Mediatheque community center, Tama Art University Library, Za Koenji Public Theatre, and TOD’S Omotesando Building in Japan, Suite Avenue Apartments, and Hotel Porta Fira in Barcelona, as well as the Kaohsiung National Stadium and Taichung Metropolitan Opera in Taiwan.
The list of previous winners of the UIA Gold Medal includes many famous architects like I.M. Pei, Tadao Ando, and Renzo Piano.
Other prizes handed by the UIA, for this year, include:
– The “Auguste Perret Prize” for Applied Technology in Architecture, awarded to “Nikolay Shumakov” from Russia.
– The “Jean Tschumi Prize” for Architectural Criticism or Architectural Education, awarded to Professor “Ashraf M Salama” from Egypt.
– The “Robert Matthew Prize” for the Improvement of the Quality of Human Settlements, awarded to “Carin Smuts” from South Africa.
– The “Vassilis Sgoutas Prize” recognizing inventive, implemented architectural solutions for reducing poverty and indigence, awarded to “Hoang Thuc Hao” from Vietnam.
– The “Sir Patrick Abercrombie Prize” for Town-Planning or Territorial Development, not awarded this year.
All the winners will be honored at a ceremony which will be held on the 6th of September. It will be the highlight of the events which will accompany the 25th UIA World Congress in Seoul, South Korea.
Hadeer Shahin is the Built Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she curates innovative architectural works from around the globe. With a background in architecture from Alexandria University and hands-on experience in design and digital content, she bridges the gap between technical precision and editorial vision. Hadeer’s keen eye for spatial storytelling and her passion for contemporary design trends make her a vital contributor to Arch2O’s mission of highlighting excellence in the built environment.