THE Pritzker Architecture Prize was established by The Hyatt Foundation in 1979 to honour annually a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision, and commitment, which has produced consistent and signicant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture. It has often been described as architectures most prestigious award or as the Nobel of Architecture.The prize takes its name from the Pritzker family, whose international business interests are headquartered in Chicago. They have long been known for their support of educational, social welfare, scientic, medical and cultural activities. Jay A. Pritzker, who founded the prize with his wife, Cindy, died on January 23, 1999.His eldest son, Thomas J. Pritzker, has become chairman of The Hyatt Foundation. In 2004, Chicago celebrated the opening of Millennium Park, in which a music pavilion designed by Pritzker Laureate Frank Gehry was dedicated and named for the founder of the prize. It was in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion that the 2005 awarding ceremony took place.Tom Pritzker explains, as native Chicagoans, its not surprising that we are keenly aware of architecture, living in the birthplace of the skyscraper, a city lled with buildings designed by architectural legends such as Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, and many others,he continues,In 1967, we acquired an unnished building, which was to become the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. Its soaring atrium was wildly successful and became the signature piece of our hotels around the world. It was immediately apparent that this design had a pronounced effect on the mood of our guests and attitude of our employees.While the architecture of Chicago made us cognizant of the art of architecture, our work with designing and building hotels made us aware of the impact architecture could have on human behaviour. So in 1978, when we were approached with the idea of honoring living architects, we were responsive.Mom and dad (Cindy and the late Jay A. Pritzker) believed that a meaningful prize would encourage and stimulate not only a greater public awareness of buildings, but also would inspire greater creativity within the architectural profession. He went on to add that he is extremely proud to carry on that effort on behalf of his family.Many of the procedures and rewards of the Pritzker Prize are modeled after the Nobel Prize. Laureates of the Pritzker Architecture Prize receive a $100,000 grant, a formal citation certicate and since 1987, a bronze medallion. Prior to that year, a limited edition Henry Moore sculpture was presented to each Laureate.Nominations are accepted from all nations, from government ofcials, writers, critics, academicians, fellow architects, architectural societies, or industrialists, virtually anyone, who might have an interest in advancing great architecture. The prize is awarded irrespective of nationality, race, creed, gender or ideology.The nominating procedure is continuous from year to year, closing in November each year. Nominations received after the closing are automatically considered in the following calendar year. The nal selection is made by an international jury with all deliberation and voting in secret.
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