the pritzker prize for the year 2023 was just announced and the winner is Sir David Chipperfield
but why was he chosen what makes him worthy of one of the highest Awards in architecture the
answer perhaps plain and simple lies in his approach to design today in this video we'll
be looking at the story of a man for whom architecture and its purpose is probably
more important than his own artistic Ambitions in trying to understand why exactly he won the
award we might just uncover what the role of an architect is or should be in the 21st century
so let's dive deeper into the life of the pritzker winner for 2023 sir David Chipperfield
David was born in London in 1953 and raised on a Countryside Farm in Devon
he graduated in 1976 from the Kingston School of Art and then went on to study architecture at the
architecture Association in London graduating in the year 1977. as many young Architects do after
their studies he went on to work at different architecture Studios to gain experience and
exposure some of the places he worked at included the offices of Norman Foster and Richard Rogers
and finally in the year 1985 he founded his own firm David Chipperfield architects
some of his early projects after opening his practice include the Gotoh Museum in
Chiba the river and Rowing Museum in the UK and the Toyota auto Kyoto building in Kyoto
in these early projects we can see that the architectural language of his Studio has
always been so varied whether it comes to form to materials or even to the experience of the spaces
we see David not follow a particular architectural style or try out bold artistic Expressions we see
a subtle experimentation distinct enough to be visible but not overly iconic and this is not
something that I am pointing out this is what the pritzker jury stated when announcing him as the
winner some words from the announcement read we do not see an instantly recognizable David
Chipperfield building in different cities but different David Chipperfield buildings designed
specifically for each circumstance this becomes more and more apparent as we continue to see the
projects done by his firm from the beautiful and tasteful restoration of the Neues Museum in Berlin
to the modern and simple Ernsting service center in Germany different projects we see different
approaches different forms different finishes all based on their context and it's not like
he just Blends the buildings completely into the surroundings for example the James Simone Gallery
is set in a historically Rich area with a strong architectural language but this building doesn't
just try to mimic the language of the surroundings it finds a way to have a dialogue with its context
to be beautiful tasteful modern and iconic and yet be able to speak to and fit into the context that
it is designed for these subtle conversations is what I think David has mastered over his career
in a 2014 interview to design boom David once declared the one thing you can't do
in architecture at least in my opinion is to limit your way of thinking to a style or a material you
have to be responsive to the circumstances of a project when we are building in a city we have a
responsibility in a way to join in and understand why buildings are as they are in that City I find
it very weak for an architect to disregard the history and culture of a city and say I
have an international style it's the equivalent of having no variation in a Cuisine you may as
well just place all the different types of food in a blender and consume it as a protein-rich shake
this actually takes me back to one of the very first lessons that was taught to me
in my architecture school to study the context and this is something David does beautifully and
honestly it's not like he doesn't do experimental projects and always just Blends things in like in
this private residence in Galicia or America's Cup building or even the Turner contemporary
but even in these projects the buildings catch your attention for sure but they are not screaming
think of it this way if it's a choir singing Maybe these buildings are hitting a different
note that is standing out to you but it's the same music it doesn't feel alien and I think
that is what David's Forte is his projects are classically beautiful they appeal to us
because of their Simplicity their geometry and the materiality there are no screaming elements here
just compositions and beauty and honestly it's difficult to achieve that in every project but
somehow he manages and manages it without the need to glorify himself or his presence in the process
Alejandro aravena who was the jury chair this year said in a world where many Architects
view a commission as an opportunity to add to their own portfolio he responds to each project
with specific tools that he has selected with preciseness and great care sometimes it requires
a gesture that is strong and Monumental while other times it requires him to almost disappear
but his buildings will always stand the test of time because the ultimate goal of his operation is
to serve the greater good the avoidance of what's fashionable has allowed him to remain permanent
so I personally think this year spritzker is well deserved it is for architecture that is beautiful
but not just for the sake of beauty it comes with a purpose and I say this because he understands
what his buildings can do for the people especially when it comes to public buildings
he tries to create spaces that don't feel elitist or selective in who can enter
he tries to weave it into the fabric of the city in such a way that everyone is invited in
and this is true for whatever country he has worked in whether it's UK USA or even Japan
his Works have always found a way to belong and somehow elate the life of the user of the
structure and of the people around it I would like to end this video with some of his words designing
isn't coming up with colors and shapes it's about developing a series of questions and ideas which
have a certain rigor and consequence to them and if you can do that it doesn't matter which
path you go down as long as you go down the path well and have been consequential in the process
and that was it you guys that was the video on David Chipperfield and why he won the pritzker
but what do you think about this win do you agree with me let me know in the comments below I will
soon make a video about some projects that have defined his career and led him to win
the pritzker prize in 2023 so look out for that if you like the video I created here you can use
the super thanks feature to let me know that you liked it and would like me to create more
such content in doing so you would also help support me and support this Channel and that
was it you guys I will see you guys soon with more such videos until then bye bye [Music]