1、The Pritzker Architecture Prize has been formally awarded to Chinese architect, Wang Shu at a ceremony held in Beijing.This is the first time the prestigious prize, which is often referred to as the Nobel Prize of Architecture, has been awarded to an architect from the Chinese mainland.Zhang Ru has
2、more.With the rapid urbanization of China, debate is always focused on whether architecture should be anchored in tradition or look toward the future.Lord Palumbo, chairman of the jury of the Pritzker Architecture Prize said that Wang Shu has answered this question through his architecture.The jury
3、saw the emergence for the first time of authentic, contemporary Chinese architecture of great quality. They combined all sorts of things: the new and old, modern and traditional, past and future, all these questions were beautifully combined in his work.Wang Shu said he is glad that the prize has ra
4、ised the Chinese publics awareness of the relationship between architecture and community needs.What I am practicing is in contrast to the huge, shining, modern, iconic and powerful architecture located in the center of our cities. I am striving for something that is close to the grass-roots, to the
5、 rights of common people, and is related to Chinese peoples traditions and daily lives. My architecture are not shining, and sometimes even looks crude. It is quite different from the mainstream architecture in China and I think it will continue raising debates and discussions.Wang Shus work stood o
6、ut from the works of this years nearly 20 candidates. His most famous design is the Ningbo History Museum in east Chinas Zhejiang Province, which was built in 2008 using recycled bricks from older buildings.Wang has also designed apartment complexes, a satellite campus for Hangzhous China Academy of
7、 Art and a tea pavilion for the Shanghai Expo in 2010.For 30 years the Pritzker Architecture Prize has been presented in 14 countries and this is the first time the event has come to China.Thomas J. Pritzker, chairman of the Hyatt Foundation, which is the prize sponsor, said they decided to hold the
8、 event in Beijing before the jury selected Wang as this years laureate.Those two things coming at the same time is both a coincidence but really a wonderful coincidence. In view of the remarkable growth of China over the last decades and over the following several decade, the opportunity for archite
9、cture to flourish is no where more present than in China. So the idea of furthering our mission and making people more aware of the importance of architecture in China and to Chinas successful development are very consistent with our mission.The prize has been awarded to many noted architects including Chinese-American I.M Pei and Jorn Utzon, the Danish architect of the Sydney Opera House.For CRI, I am Zhang Ru.
