Eduardo Souto de Moura won the 2011 Pritzker Prize, a high accolade in the world of architecture. The Portuguese architect worked for 1992 Pritzker Prize winner Alvaro Siza before creating his own office and going on to complete more than 60 projects. The Lord Palumbo, Pritzker Prize jury chairman, said:
“During the past three decades, Eduardo Souto de Moura has produced a body of work that is of our time but also carries echoes of architectural traditions.” And further, “His buildings have a unique ability to convey seemingly conflicting characteristics–power and modesty, bravado and subtlety, bold public authority and a sense of intimacy–at the same time.”
Souto de Moura’s architecture has a minimalist quality, according to Architecture Critic Christopher Hawthorne of the Los Angeles Times, and many of his designs do seem to have a neatly-pruned look about them.
The Pritzker Architecture Prize website offers explanations on the history of the award as well as the nomination process. What do you think of Souto de Moura’s architectural style?
Photos by Luis Ferreira Alves
