Pritzker Prize-Winning Architecture Firm Herzog & De Meuron Honored as Louis I Kahn Award Recipient

The Center for Architecture and Design in Philadelphia awarded Herzog & de Meuron the 36th Louis I. Kahn Award. The yearly honor, established in 1983 in Louis Kahn’s gratitude, honors people who have brought remarkable accomplishments to the profession of architecture.
On May 31, 2023, the official prize presentation occurred at the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Anthropology and Archeology. One of the two directors of the Swiss-based architecture firm, Jacques Herzog, delivered a discourse in favor of Herzog & de Meuron’s office.

A Tour of Herzog & de Meuron’s Progression

Herzog & de Meuron is an architecture and design firm established in 1978 by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. It has wrapped up several well-known initiatives, including the majestic Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg, the famous Tate Modern in London, and the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympics.

Their designs frequently include components tailored to the project’s location, including the site and cultural setting. The studio is also praised for its focus on detail, inventive use of materials, and building methods to explore and advance the design discipline.

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. © Iwan Baan

Herzog & de Meuron received the Pritzker Prize in 2001, marking the first occasion the renowned award was given for the work of a collaboration rather than a single architect. They received recognition for their elaborate and creative façades at the time of the win. Their aesthetic has changed recently, concentrating more on the complexity and framework of their structures. The organization was also awarded the Royal Gold Medal in 2006 and was honored with the RIBA Jenks Award in 2015

Also Read: The 2023 Royal Gold Medal Recipient Is the Acclaimed Yasmeen Lari.

Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, East Ring. © Iwan Baan

The event not only pays tribute to the late Philadelphia architect Louis Kahn, who was born in Estonia and held a reputation as one of the most notable Modernist American architects, but it also raises money for the Center for Architecture and Design’s Architecture and Design Education (ADE) program, which offers no-charge design instruction in Philadelphia.
Through this effort, architects and designers visit public school classes to educate students about architecture and design and provide them with the skills they need to enhance their homes, communities, and cities.

The Gattuso Development Partners sponsors the Louis I. Kahn Award, now in its 36th year. Former recipients of the prestigious prize include Rafael Violy, César Pelli, Jeanne Gang, Bjarke Ingels, Norman Foster, Peter Bohlin, Daniel Libeskind, and British architect Sir David Adjaye.