Liu Jiakun Wins 2025 Pritzker Prize for Human-Centered Architecture

©artnews

Renowned Chinese architect Liu Jiakun has been awarded the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize, honoring his innovative and community-driven designs. Based in Chengdu, Liu is known for seamlessly blending tradition with modernity, creating spaces that resonate with local history while serving contemporary needs.

The Pritzker jury praised Liu for using Chinese tradition as a tool for innovation, rather than nostalgia. His works, spanning museums, universities, and urban developments, prioritize human-scale design over grand monumentalism, integrating into daily life rather than overpowering it.

One of his standout projects, West Village in Chengdu, embodies this philosophy. Designed as a vertical city block, the five-story complex connects open plazas, shops, and public spaces through a network of walkways and ramps. It became so popular that at one point, 9,000 visitors overwhelmed its rooftop promenade, leading authorities to temporarily restrict access.

Liu’s commitment extends beyond aesthetics—his work reflects deep social and environmental consciousness. Following the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, he pioneered "rebirth bricks," repurposing rubble mixed with wheat fiber to aid reconstruction. More recently, his revitalization projects, including the transformation of a former steelworks in Hangzhou, demonstrate his continued dedication to blending history, sustainability, and urban renewal.

By embracing the past while designing for the future, Liu Jiakun has redefined contemporary Chinese architecture, earning his place among the world’s most influential architects.