Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara of Dublin, Ireland, architects whose architectural practice are based in Grafton Architects, will be the recipient of the 2020 Pritzker Architecture Prize. Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara are the 47th-48th Laureates of the Pritzker Prize and the first two recipients from Ireland. The 2020 Pritzker Prize ceremony will take place in France this May, accompanied by a public lecture in Paris.
“For their integrity in their approach to both their buildings, as well as the way they conduct their practice, their belief in collaboration, their generosity towards their colleagues, especially as evidenced in such events as the 2018 Venice Biennale, their unceasing commitment to excellence in architecture, their responsible attitude toward the environment, their ability to be cosmopolitan while embracing the uniqueness of each place in which they work, for all these reasons and more, Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara are awarded the 2020 Pritzker Architecture Prize,” states the 2020 Jury Citation, in part.
The last awardees were.-
2019 ARATA ISOZAKI
2018 BALKRISHNA DOSHI
2017 RAFAEL ARANDA, CARME PIGEM AND RAMÓN VILALTA
2016 ALEJANDRO ARAVENA
2015 FREI OTTO
2014 SHIGERU BAN
2013 TOYO ITO
2012 WANG SHU
2011 SOUTO DE MOURA
.../...
2018 BALKRISHNA DOSHI
2017 RAFAEL ARANDA, CARME PIGEM AND RAMÓN VILALTA
2016 ALEJANDRO ARAVENA
2015 FREI OTTO
2014 SHIGERU BAN
2013 TOYO ITO
2012 WANG SHU
2011 SOUTO DE MOURA
.../...
The award consists of USD 100,000 (equivalent to € 89,610) and a bronze medallion with the inscription of "firmness, commodity and delight", in reference to the classic Vitruve motto "firmitas, utilitas, venustas".
The prize takes its name from the Pritzker family, whose international business interests are headquartered in Chicago. Their name is synonymous with Hyatt Hotels, located throughout the world. The Pritzkers have long been known for their support of educational, scientific, medical, and cultural activities. Jay A. Pritzker, (1922-1999), founded the prize with his wife, Cindy. His eldest son, Thomas J. Pritzker, the current president of The Hyatt Foundation, explains, "As native Chicagoans, it’s not surprising that our family was keenly aware of architecture, living in the birthplace of the skyscraper, a city filled with buildings designed by architectural legends such as Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, and many others."
2020 JURY
The independent jury of experts ranges each year from five to nine members. Jury members, which have the mission of selecting the laureate each year, serve for multiple years to assure a balance between past and new members. The jury members are selected for their high recognition in their own fields of architecture, business, education, publishing, and culture. No members of the Pritzker family or outside observers are present during jury deliberations, which usually take place during the first months of the calendar year.
Barry Bergdoll, 2019-present
Deborah Berke, 2019-present
Stephen Breyer, 2012-present (Chair 2019-present)
André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, 2017-present
Kazuyo Sejima, 2017-present - 2010 Pritzker Laureate
Benedetta Tagliabue, 2014-present
Wang Shu, 2017-present - 2012 Pritzker Laureate
Martha Thorne, 2005-present (Executive Director)