Pritzker Prize Laureate of 2013: Architect Toyo Ito

Porta Fira Towers | Barcelona, Spain | Toyo Ito

Hugo Boss Store on the Passeig de Gracia

VPO DE TOYO ITO EN LOGROÑO | TOYO ITO'S SOCIAL HOUSING IN LOGROÑO

562 國家體育場/National Stadium(2009 World Games Stadium)

Tree-like Rainforced Concrete Structure

In the ’70s, the now 71-year-old Toyo Ito combined words “urban” and “robot” into Urbot for his studio’s name in Japan, beginning a decades-long journey to career prominence. He’s labeled as a pioneer of conceptual architecture, a design approach that’s inspired by ideas external to the industry’s traditional guiding principles. As this year’s recipient of the highest honor in architecture — the Pritzker Prize — Ito’s vision in creating buildings for public environments is always forward-thinking. “I will never fix my architectural style and never be satisfied with my works,” he states in the official announcement of the award.

Explore more of his works in the Architecture by Toyo Ito gallery, Toyo Ito / 伊東豐雄 group, and see works by prestigious architects in the Pritzker Laureates group.

Photos from Pete Sieger, j.towbin, Gon.photo, Londer Ray.tw, and guen-k.