ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo

CLAD people

RCR Arquitectes

Project - Winners of the 2017 Pritzker Prize for Architecture


Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta were selected as the winners of the 2017 Pritzker Architecture Prize.

The Pritzker award, which is widely regarded as architecture’s highest accolade, honours a living architect or architects “whose built work demonstrates a combination of talent, vision and commitment, and who has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment.”

The three architects, originating from Olot in the Catalonian region of Spain, have worked together collaboratively since founding their firm RCR Arquitectes in their hometown in 1988.

Their notable leisure projects include La Cuisine Art Center (Nègrepelisse, France, 2014), Soulages Museum (Rodez, France, 2014), La Lira Theater Public Open Space (Ripoll, Girona, Spain, 2011), Les Cols restaurant marquee (Olot, Girona, Spain, 2011) and the Tossol-Basil Athletics Track (Olot, Girona, Spain, 2000).

According to the Pritzker judges: “Their work demonstrates an unyielding commitment to place and its narrative, creating spaces that are in discourse with their respective contexts.

“Harmonising materiality with transparency, Aranda, Pigem and Vilalta seek connections between the exterior and interior, resulting in emotional and experiential architecture.”

This is the first time three architects together have been honoured with the prize.

“Their intensely collaborative way of working together, where the creative process, commitment to vision and all responsibilities are shared equally, led to the selection of the three individuals for this year’s award,” the judes said.

In response, Pigem said: “It is a great joy and a great responsibility. We are thrilled that this year three professionals, who work closely together in everything we do, are recognised.”

It is the second time that the Pritzker has gone to an architect from Spain, following Rafael Moneo who received the award in 1996.

Tom Pritzker, chairman of Hyatt Foundation, which sponsors the award, said: “Aranda, Pigem and Vilalta have had an impact on the discipline far beyond their immediate area.

“Their works range from public and private spaces to cultural venues and educational institutions, and their ability to intensely relate the environment specific to each site stands as testament to their process and deep integrity.”

Jury chair Glenn Murcutt added: “They’ve demonstrated that unity of a material can lend such incredible strength and simplicity to a building. The collaboration of these three architects produces uncompromising architecture of a poetic level, representing timeless work that reflects great respect for the past, while projecting clarity that is of the present and the future.”

The Pritzker Prize awards ceremony will take place at the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Japan, on May 20, 2017.

What the jury said

“In this day and age, there is an important question that people all over the world are asking, and it is not just about architecture; it’s about law, politics, and government as well. We live in a globalised world where we must rely on international influences, trade, discussion and transactions. But more and more people fear that, because of this international influence, we will lose our local values, our local art and our local customs. They are concerned and sometimes frightened.

“Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta tell us that it may be possible to have both. They help us to see, in a most beautiful and poetic way, that the answer to the question is not ‘either/or’ and that we can – at least in architecture – aspire to have both; our roots firmly in place and our arms outstretched to the rest of the world. And that is such a wonderfully reassuring answer, particularly if it applies in other areas of modern human life as well.”

Gallery
Click on an image to open the image gallery
company profile
Company profile: The Wellness
Based in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, The Wellness are the next generation of wellness consultants providing spa, fitness, hydro engineering and leisure related concepts for the global Wellness markets.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
AEW Architects designed the hotel, which features contemporary design and bold colours
Giggs, Scholes, Butt, and Gary and Phil Neville are behind the project
"When we dreamt of building the first Hotel Football, we knew exactly what we wanted it to be"

The next phase for the Manchester sport-themed hotel

At night the Writers Theatre glows from within, attracting the interest of passers by and drawing people inside
Jeanne Gang studied at the University of Illinois and Harvard Graduate School of Design
"Understanding science is so important. People are denying climate change. It’s a crisis"

The architect behind the American Museum of Natural History’s major new wing on idealism and the potential of design

Sangha encompasses a range of homes as well as a retreat, a boutique hotel and learning spaces
"The key to a happy and successful society is a philosophy that places wellness at the heart of everything"

Calvin Tsao and brother Frederick are reviving the Chinese culture of physical and mental wellbeing with their Octave Living development company, as Christopher DeWolf discovers

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
The open air bar/event space Jardins Gamelin features an illuminated suspended sculpture
"A vast yet understated investment in cultural institutions and tourist infrastructure is taking place without lavish budgets, starchitects or international fanfare"

The amazing projects transforming Canada’s second city

The Panda House features separate spaces for the male and female pandas
David Zahle
"I realised we’d created an environment where it was more about talent and trust than how much experience you had."

Designing the Panda House for Copenhagen Zoo

The Perkins+Will-designed National Center for Civil Rights opened 
in Atlanta in 2014
Gabrielle Bullock studied architecture and fine art at the Rhode Island School of Design
"I’m one of 424 black female licensed architects in the US. We represent 0.2 per cent of the profession"

Architects must reflect the world they design for, says Perkins+Will’s director of global diversity

features
Architect, resort owner and pool designer Emanuele Boaretto
"We’re now consulting all over the world with architects and developers on other dive pool projects "

Kath Hudson talks to Italian architect Emanuele Boaretto about building the world’s deepest diving pool to regenerate both his own spa resort and the region

Ben van Berkel studied at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and the AA in London
Bos studied history of art in London and urban and regional planning at the University of Utrecht, Netherlands
"I like art that is against the mainstream, slightly off, with a twist"

UNStudio’s co-founder on the unexpected challenges of designing Australia’s tallest skyscraper

Scott Lee designed the family’s residence, the first LEED-H certified home in Marin County, US
Scott Lee became president of SB Architects in 2000. Tracy Lee founded TLee Spas in 2015
"We design to connect the guest to the place, positioning people at the centre of the design"

Architect Scott Lee and spa consultant Tracey Lee on marrying the worlds of design and wellness in a series of interesting projects

cladkit product news
Eco Resort Network conference to convene in Mauritius this May
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Megan Whitby
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from ...
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
Eden project uses drones to spell out climate change warning
Magali Robathan
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change ...
cladkit product news
Jaffe Holden helps bring Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alive
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Magali Robathan
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion ...
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
cladkit product news
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo