Written by Jeremy Silverman: As the most prestigious award and highest honor that one can receive in the world of architecture, the Pritzker Prize is awarded annually to a living architect for significant achievement. Established by the Pritzker family of Chicago through their Hyatt Foundation in 1979, the prize is commonly known as the “architecture’s Nobel.” Previous winners have included starchitects such as Jean Nouvel, Zaha Hadid, and Norman Foster. This year’s winner, however, is much less “on the radar” than the others, but based on the impressive body of work that he has put together, is no less of a surprise.

Peter Zumthor is a Switzerland-based architect who studied a variety of disciplines from cabinetry and monument preservation. Thomas Pritzker, who is chairman of the foundation, announced Zumthor as the 2009 honoree explaining, “Peter Zumthor is a master architect admired by his colleagues around the world for work that is focused, uncompromising and exceptionally determined.” And he added, “All of Peter Zumthor’s buildings have a strong, timeless presence. He has a rare talent of combining clear and rigorous thought with a truly poetic dimension, resulting in works that never cease to inspire.” Click Read More for additional information and photos.

Touring Switzerland, Germany, Spain, or any of the destinations that have been defined by their architecture in recent times can be a very rewarding way to spend a vacation. For those interested in seeing Zumthor´s work in person, I recommend ending a European tour at one of his most famous creations, the Therme Vals hotel and spa in the Swiss village of Vals.

Therme Vals Hotel Spa
NY Times on Philip Zumthor
Future Blog on Philip Zumthor

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