The world was abuzz yesterday with the news that this year's Pritzker Prize, the most important honor in the architectural community, has been awarded to two architects from Ireland - Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara of Grafton Architects.
Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara at the 2020 Royad Gold Medal award ceremony.
photo: Morley von Sternberg FRIBA
Five female architects have received this prestigious award so far, in addition to this year's winners are: Zaha Hadid, Kazuyo Sejima and Carme Pigem. We hope that this illustrious group will soon expand to include more female designers. Meanwhile, in today's "Coffee Break," we remind you of the seven projects of the 2020 Pritzker Prize winners.
Bocconi University
The building, which is part of Milan's prestigious university, serves as a conference and research center. The northern elevation of the building distinguishes the shape of the impressive Aula Magna. The hall's foyer has been located below ground level, and natural light is brought into its interior through longitudinal glazing running along Via Röntgen Street.
Bocconi University, Italy, Milan, pro: Grafton Architects
photo: Frederico Brunetti
University of Limerick
Irish architects designed the medical school and student housing buildings for the University of Limerick. The 2015 realization was on the short list of buildings nominated for the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Prize.
Medical school and student housing, Ireland, Limerick, pro: Grafton Architects
photo: Ross Aitchison
UTEC university campus
The design of UTEC's new campus building was inspired by the monumental cliffs that form the border between Peru's capital and the Pacific Ocean. The north side of the building acts as a "cliff," while the south side is formed by cascading gardens.
UTEC university campus, Peru, Lima, proj.: Grafton Architects
photo: Nicolás Provoste
Institut Mines-Télécom
In designing the modern university edifice in Paris, the architects drew on the models of traditional educational institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard, referring to their regular plans, courtyards and cloisters.
Institut Mines-Télécom, France, Paris, pro: Grafton Architects
photo: Alexandre Soria
Architecture Biennale 2018
The motto of the 16th edition of the Venice Biennale, curated by Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara, was free space - "Freespace." Poland was represented at the 2018 Venice International Architecture Exhibition by Anna Ptak's project titled. "Amplification of Nature" prepared together with architects from the Centrala design group.
Toulouse School of Economics
The university building in Toulouse was built on the site of a breach in the historic city wall. The brick, disjointed volume fits perfectly into the city's buildings and blends in with the neighboring Saint-Pierre-des-Cuisineschurch building.
Toulouse School of Economics, France, Toulouse, pro: Grafton Architects
photo: Frédérique Félix-Faure
Town House
The multifunctional teaching building designed for London's Kingston University is framed by a bright, geometric design. Moving away from the facade, the openwork structure creates accessible terraces for students.
Kingston University, UK, London, pro: Grafton Architects
photo: Ed Reeve
Which project is your favorite? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
