London (Feb. 26, 2009)- The Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza will today receive one of architecture’s most prestigious prizes, the Royal Gold Medal.
As part of the Royal Institute of British Architect’s (RIBA) celebrations for its 175th anniversary, Siza will be presented with the award by Her Majesty The Queen at a private audience at Buckingham Palace, followed by a celebratory dinner held in his honour at the RIBA. Awarded in recognition of a lifetime’s work, the Royal Gold Medal is approved personally by Her Majesty The Queen and is given annually to a person or group of people whose lifetime’s work has had a significant influence on international architecture.
The honour recognises the impact Siza has made on architecture; he is a major figure in European architecture who has remained true to his artistic and ethical principles and achieved a prolific portfolio of work worldwide, which remains rooted in his native city of Porto.
This accolade also recognises the contribution Siza has made to his home country of Portugal, from the low cost housing scheme for the local government of Evora, to the College of Education, Setubal (1993), the University of Oporto Faculty of Architecture (1993) and the Adeaga Mayor Winery (2006). As testament to his international reputation, he has designed buildings in Germany, Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands and South Korea. Unusually for an architect of such international standing, Siza has deliberately kept his studio small to ensure his attention to every project.
