Liu Jiakun Awarded 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize

March 6, 2025

Chinese architect Liu Jiakun has been honored with the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize, recognizing his contributions to contemporary architecture. This prestigious award, often called the "Nobel Prize of Architecture," celebrates Liu's work, which harmoniously blends traditional Chinese aesthetics with modern functionality.


Liu Jiakun


A Journey Rooted in Cultural Resilience


Born in 1956 in Chengdu, China, Liu's early life was shaped by the Cultural Revolution, during which he was sent to the countryside as a laborer. This period profoundly influenced his perspective on architecture, emphasizing resilience and adaptability. After graduating from the Chongqing Institute of Architecture and Engineering in 1982, Liu founded Jiakun Architects in 1999, aiming to create spaces that reflect cultural continuity and community engagement.



Signature Projects: Tradition and Modernity


Liu's portfolio showcases a deep respect for local materials and craftsmanship. Notable projects include the Luyeyuan Stone Sculpture Art Museum in Chengdu, which integrates traditional Chinese garden elements, and the Suzhou Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick, reflecting his commitment to cultural preservation. The West Village Basis Yard in Chengdu exemplifies his approach to urban development, offering multi-level public spaces that foster community interaction.


Suzhou Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick  © Arch-Exist

Architectural Philosophy: Imperfection and Sustainability


Liu's design philosophy highlights practicality, sustainability, and social engagement. He often utilizes locally sourced and recycled materials, as seen in his development of "rebirth bricks" from earthquake debris, demonstrating a commitment to adaptive reuse and resilience. His projects avoid excessive formalism and focus on functionality, spatial quality, and material authenticity, creating spaces that resonate with their historical and social contexts.



West Village Basis Yard in Chengdu  © Arch-Exist


Global Recognition and Impact



Liu Jiakun is the second Chinese architect to receive the Pritzker Prize, following Wang Shu in 2012. The jury highlighted Liu's ability to balance tradition with contemporary demands, ensuring that architecture remains relevant to cultural heritage and urban development. His work will be exhibited at the Biennale Architettura 2025 in Venice, showcasing his contributions to architecture and urban planning.



Luyeyuan Stone Sculpture Art Museum  © Bi Kejian


Liu's recognition by the Pritzker Prize underscores the importance of socially grounded architecture that is materially conscious and responsive to historical context, offering valuable insights for architects worldwide.



By OTIIMA MMTW April 30, 2025
In the heart of Lisbon, where the city begins to rise and the river still whispers in the distance, a new residential building stands with confidence. Bow, designed by Ana Costa Arquitetura and developed by Prime Portugal, redefines what it means to live above the Marquês de Pombal.  Bow opens to Lisbon’s shifting light and long horizons from the upper levels. Its form embraces the curvature of the landscape, while its architecture speaks in soft, decisive lines. Within those lines, OTIIMA plays a leading role.
By OTIIMA MMTW April 24, 2025
There is a particular kind of silence in Mediterranean architecture. A silence made of sun-bleached walls, filtered light passing through wooden slats, and open courtyards that breathe with the wind. Today, this timeless language is being rewritten—minimal, restrained, and yet deeply rooted in the rituals of the land. A Tradition Reinvented Modern Mediterranean architecture doesn’t mimic the past. It refines it. The terracotta is still warm, the limestone still rough, but now the lines are sharper, the spaces more fluid. Architects are reclaiming the vernacular, not as nostalgia, but as a source of resilience, comfort, and sensory clarity. Its architecture is made to age with grace. Made for slowness, for texture, for shadow.
By OTIIMA MMTW April 17, 2025
At the heart of every Laney LA project lies the pursuit of something greater, timeless yet undeniably fresh. In SC Residence, the Los Angeles-based studio partnered with OTIIMA to push boundaries in aesthetics and performance. We sat down with the architects behind the project to discuss their approach, the power of collaboration, and how innovation can shape the cities of tomorrow. A Practice Rooted in Time and Experimentation For Laney LA, design is not simply a choice between old and new; it’s about finding the balance between the two. “Our studio is constantly searching for a design that embodies timelessness and innovation. Timelessness includes staying power and that rare ability to remain relevant over time. Innovation feeds our curiosity as we are oriented toward noticing new ideas.” This mindset requires continually questioning conventional design norms. Which rules are worth preserving, and which are meant to be broken? For Laney LA, the tension between the two is where meaningful architecture begins.
By OTIIMA MMTW April 10, 2025
In architecture, inspiration is everything. It drives concepts, shapes materiality, and defines the experience of space. But finding fresh ideas, especially in a fast-paced, globalized industry, requires more than scrolling through image feeds or revisiting old references. It demands a mindset of curiosity, observation, and intention. Here are six practical ways to uncover and turn meaningful architectural inspiration into project-defining ideas. 1. Diversify Your Sources of Inspiration Expand your creative horizons by exploring areas beyond architecture, such as art, literature, music, and nature. This holistic approach can introduce innovative concepts that can be adapted into your architectural work. Tip : Shift your perspective by exploring different forms of creativity to break through creative blocks.
By OTIIMA MMTW April 3, 2025
The world of architecture and design is filled with inspiring events throughout the year, but April stands out as a particularly dynamic month. With a lineup of prestigious exhibitions, fairs, and industry gatherings, it offers a unique opportunity to engage with groundbreaking ideas and emerging trends. In this article, we explore the top architecture and design events taking place this April, from the artistic influence of Art Paris to the innovation showcased at Expo 2025 Osaka. Art Paris 2025 Grand Palais Éphémère, Paris | April 3–6, 2025  A celebration of contemporary art, Art Paris returns with a focus on architectural influences in modern creative expression. Featuring an impressive selection of galleries, this edition highlights the dialogue between art and space, offering a unique perspective for architects seeking inspiration beyond traditional frameworks.
By OTIIMA MMTW March 27, 2025
March 27 marks the anniversary of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. His philosophy, built on clarity, simplicity, and material honesty, continues to inspire contemporary architecture. His work embodies a timeless vision that remains as relevant as ever. Here are five key lessons architects today can learn from Mies van der Rohe. Less is More Perhaps his most famous principle, “Less is more,” summarizes Mies’ approach to design: stripping away the unnecessary to reveal the essential. His buildings are characterized by clean lines, open floor plans, and an absence of ornamentation. This philosophy encourages architects to prioritize spatial clarity and material integrity, resulting in structures that are modern and enduring.
By OTIIMA MMTW March 20, 2025
Scandinavian architecture and design represent a deep connection between nature, functionality, and the human experience. Grounded in a landscape of vast fjords, endless forests, and soft northern light, it reflects a unique philosophy and way of life. The Origins  The origins of Scandinavian architecture date back to the Viking era, when timber structures and intricate carvings reflected a profound connection to materiality and craftsmanship. As centuries unfolded, this reverence for natural materials persisted, evolving with the changing needs of modern society. The early 20th century witnessed the emergence of Nordic Classicism, a restrained yet elegant style that soon gave way to a more functional and human-centric approach: Scandinavian Modernism.
By OTIIMA MMTW March 13, 2025
Belgium’s topography is a delicate balance between history and modernity. From Bruges's medieval charm to Antwerp and Brussels's bold contemporary structures, architecture here is a study in balance. Minimalism finds a profound expression where clean lines, raw materials, and seamless transitions define space. At OTIIMA, we are privileged to contribute to this evolving narrative, shaping spaces where glass dissolves into air, thresholds blur, and architecture becomes an experience. In Belgium, three projects reference our philosophy: Villa Izegem, Villa P, and Villa V à Harelbeke. Villa Izegem | Govaert & Vanhoutte Architects Villa Izegem is an ode to minimalism in its purest form. Govaert & Vanhoutte Architects sculpted a space where vast glass expanses erase the boundary between nature and dwelling. The land breathes through the structure, light carving its way across surfaces, shifting with time. OTIIMA’s ultra-slim profiles amplify this sense of weightlessness, ensuring that nothing interrupts the dialogue between inside and out. The villa is not simply inhabited; it’s a quiet retreat where transparency is the ultimate luxury.
By OTIIMA MMTW March 8, 2025
Visionary minds have long shaped the architecture industry, yet women architects have fought for recognition in a male-dominated field for decades. Today, their contributions are undeniable, with groundbreaking projects that push the boundaries of design, functionality, and sustainability. This article highlights a few remarkable projects led by women architects that demonstrate their profound impact on modern architecture. 1. Heydar Aliyev Center – Zaha Hadid  Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan, is a remarkable example of architectural fluidity and innovation. The building features a sinuous, wave-like form that challenges traditional architectural norms, creating an uninterrupted spatial experience. Renowned for her bold and futuristic designs, Hadid proved that architecture can be functional and sculptural. The center is a cultural hub that embodies modernity and movement in its design.
By OTIIMA MMTW February 27, 2025
As the 2025 Academy Awards approach, the spotlight is once again on the art of filmmaking, a fusion of storytelling, visual composition, and immersive world-building. Among the many crafts that shape a film’s identity, set design plays a pivotal role in defining cinematic spaces' realism and aesthetic coherence. The relationship between film and architecture is more than just a visual spectacle; it studies how space, light, and structure influence perception and emotion. 
More Posts