Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha has won the 2006 Pritzker Architecture Prize for his half century of work, which brought beauty and order to a gritty and chaotic Sao Paulo.
Mendes da Rocha, 77, is the second Brazilian to win the so-called "Nobel for Architecture" after Oscar Niemeyer, who was awarded the prize in 1988 and still works as he nears 100.
While Niemeyer's curved concrete symbolises sultry Rio de Janeiro and the futuristic capital Brasilia, Mendes da Rocha's sleek concrete lines reflects the serious-minded Sao Paulo, Brazil's business capital and home to 18 million.
"His signature concrete materials and intelligent yet remarkably straightforward construction methods create powerful and expressive internationally-recognised buildings," the Pritzker jury said in a statement on Sunday.
One of those buildings is the Brazilian Museum of Sculpture, built in 1988, where multilevel outdoor spaces give "Paulistanos" a place to relax in the midst of the city's concrete jungle.
Mendes da Rocha called the prize a distinction for Brazilian and Latin American architects.
"I believe this prize and regard for my work is a way to show the great importance of Latin American architecture and the space it has conquered recently," Mendes da Rocha told Reuters.
Past winners include Britain's Sir Norman Foster, Italy's Renzo Piano and American Thom Mayne. Only three Latin Americans have won the award since its inception in 1979.
While Mendes da Rocha has built residences and boutiques for some of Sao Paulo's wealthiest families, he also spent decades teaching at the University of Sao Paulo and has been a pivotal player in large-scale social and urban renewal projects.
Comments
Comments are closed.