Trending Now - Chilean Architect Smiljan Radić Wins 2026 Pritzker Prize

WHO:

Smiljan Radić Clarke, Chilean architect, winner of the 2026 Pritzker Prize

Alejandro Aravena, chair of the Pritzker Prize jury and first Chilean Pritzker winner in 2016

Tom Pritzker, director of the Pritzker Prize foundation and former executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation

WHAT:

Smiljan Radić was awarded the Pritzker Prize on March 12th, 2026.

The Pritzker Prize is often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture.

Radić is the second Chilean architect to win the award, following Alejandro Aravena.

The prize includes a $100,000 grant and a bronze medallion.

Radić's notable works include the House for the Poem of the Right Angle (completed in 2013), Teatro Regional del Bío Bío, and the VIK winery in Millahue, Chile.

WHERE:

Santiago, Chile (location of several of Radić's works, including the Restaurant Mestizo and the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art)

Concepción, Chile (location of Teatro Regional del Bío Bío)

London, UK (location of the Serpentine Pavilion designed by Radić)

Miami, Florida, USA (location of an Alexander McQueen store designed by Radić)

WHEN:

The Pritzker Prize was awarded on March 12th, 2026.

Radić designed the Serpentine Pavilion in 2014.

The House for the Poem of the Right Angle was completed in 2013.

The Pritzker Prize was established in 1979.

WHY:

Radić expressed that architecture is a positive act that helps create concrete realities for people.

The Pritzker Prize aims to celebrate architectural excellence.

HOW:

Radić's designs often incorporate local materials and reflect the context of the site.

His work is characterized by a juxtaposition of manmade and natural materials, with structures sometimes embedded in rocky terrain.

(UPDATED March 12, 2026 19:20 UTC)

Today, Smiljan Radić was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Prize, often called the Nobel Prize of architecture, making him the second Chilean architect to receive this honor, following Alejandro Aravena. The award, which includes a $100,000 grant and a bronze medallion, recognizes Radić's significant contributions to architecture, including notable works like the House for the Poem of the Right Angle and the Teatro Regional del Bío Bío. Radić's designs are celebrated for their thoughtful use of local materials and their ability to harmonize with the natural environment, reflecting his belief that architecture is a positive act that shapes the realities of people's lives.