Rafael Moneo Wins Praemium Imperiale

The 80-year-old architect is one of five laureates in various disciplines:

• Painting:  Shirin Neshat
• Sculpture: El Anatsui 
• Architecture: Rafael Moneo
• Music: Youssou N'Dour
• Theatre/Film: Mikhail Baryshnikov

One of Moneo's most well known projects is one of his earliest: the National Museum of Roman Art in Mérida, Spain, completed in 1986. Walls and archways of thin brick recall the Roman ruins that the building literally sits upon. As described by the Japan Art Association, this building "established his reputation and he has successfully completed many projects in, as well as outside, Spain." One of the notable projects within Spain is the Kursaal Centre in San Sebastián, which won the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture-Mies van der Rohe Award 2001.

Of the projects outside of Japan, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Downtown Los Angeles is considered by the Japan Art Association as "a fine example of his mature design."

Moneo describes his design approach to the Japan Art Association:

It is important for buildings to be integrated into the city space harmoniously. By respecting the historical background of the building site, we can create a bigger reality. Buildings should contribute to the city and to the happiness of the residents. ... What is important for a building is not the form but the material. Most architects will first try to find the best materials they can before starting to design the building.