Paulo Mendes da Rocha wins prestigious Praemium Imperiale architecture prize
– Praemium Imperiale jury
Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha has been awarded the prestigious Praemium Imperiale global prize for architecture.
The accolade – among the most valuable in the profession with prize money worth upwards of US$132,000 (€117,000, £100,000) – has been awarded annually by the Japan Art Association since 1989. Winners are also announced in the categories of painting, sculpture, music and theatre/film – areas of achievement chosen as they are not covered by the Nobel Prize.
Da Rocha is best known for his brutalist designs in his homeland. His landmark structures in the country include the Serra Dourada football stadium in Goiania and the Clube Atlético Paulistano gymnasium and the Brazilian Sculpture Museum in Sao Paolo.
In a citation, the Praemium Imperiale jury said: “With a strong understanding of engineering, these projects highlight the innate appeal of simple materials such as concrete and steel and are structured to utilise space to maximum effect.
“At the heart of da Rocha’s architecture is the pursuit of an ‘ideal harmony between the internal and the external.’ While comprehensively taking into account locality, history and landscape, he notes that ‘an architect doesn’t design for himself. He designs for society. So it’s society that is in charge.’”
Over the years, da Rocha has taught at the University of São Paulo and served as president of the Brazilian Institute of Architects. Earlier this year he was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale.
Previous winners of the Praemium Imperiale architecture prize include David Chipperfield, Toyo Ito, Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster, Peter Zumthor and Jean Nouvel. Last year the award was presented to French architect Dominique Perrault.
Paulo Mendes da Rocha Praemium Imperiale architecture prize design Japan Art Association

Mather & Co-designed Gretna Green Experience opens to the public

Project to save last major bellfoundry which cast bells for St Paul's and Washington National Cathedral

Perkins & Will reveals designs for net-zero sports and cultural centre in Toronto

World’s first living waterslides announced for Therme Manchester

Heatherwick reveals Volcano-inspired opera house designs for Hainan

Natural history museum planned for Abu Dhabi

Controversial London music venue, MSG Sphere, gets full planning permission

Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment

Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment

Glasgow's iconic Burrell Collection reopens after five-year, £68.5m revamp

SB Architects delivers Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica with tree-house spa and private residences

Ole Scheeren designs vertical jungle resort complex in China

Designer Brian d’Souza launches Swell to create evocative soundscapes for physical environments

Basalt Architects create geothermal Forest Lagoon in the wilds of Iceland

Hot Pickle design £73m Guinness visitor attraction for Diageo in London

Amsterdam's new digital art centre Fabrique des Lumières will use tech to bring art alive

Pharrell Williams to launch tropical Bahamian beach resort

Banyan Tree curating solar-powered wellness retreat on private Mozambican island

Dubai Expo hits 10 million visits

Foster + Partners designs Dorchester Collection's first hotel in Middle East

Neil Jacobs reveals Six Senses Places concept for major cities

Orient Express returns to Italy after 46 years with six trains designed by Dimorestudio and new Rome hotel

400-year-old mineral spring will power Preidlhof’s €2m medicinal bath experience

Universal Beijing Resort reveals expansion plans for second phase

Pop-up stadium built with shipping containers opens ahead of 2022 World Cup

Playfulness will inspire Serenbe’s new wellness community, Spela

John McAslan + Partners-designed M7 cultural hub and museum opens in Doha

LPO Architects and GrecoDeco create vast subterranean wellness retreat for Oslo

Herzog and de Meuron’s M+ museum of visual culture distils essence of Hong Kong
