Pritzker Architecture Prize 2009: Peter Zumthor

The 2009 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize is Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, announced today. For many this will be unsurprising, given Zumthor's exceptional body of work, and for even more it will be a long overdue award.

Notable projects by Zumthor include the Thermal Baths Vals in Switzerland, Kunsthaus Bregenz in Austria, Saint Benedict Chapel in Switzerland, and Swiss Sound Box for Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany. The recent completions of both the Kolumba Museum in Cologne and the Brother Klaus Field Chapel in Wachendorf, Eifel, both in Germany, most likely helped greatly in securing the award for Zumthor.


[photo of Peter Zumthor by Gary Ebner | image source]

For this year's prize, I was honored to take part in the nomination process, solicited by the Executive Director to submit names for award. At the top of my list was Peter Zumthor. Needless to say, I'm happy to see the award go to him. As well, I'm looking forward to the ensuing discussion in print and online in the coming weeks. I'll try to post more on Zumthor and the Prize in that time.

Update 04.13: Today's ArchNewsNow has a bevy of links on the Pritzker Prize.