Eighty four year old Danish architect Jørn Utzon is the winner of the 2003 Pritzker Prize. Despite the many buildings and projects realised during the course of a long a brilliant career , Utzon’s name has always been best known for his most famous work, the Sydney Opera House. Designed in 1957 and completed in 1973 it immediately became the symbol of the Australian capital and one of the icons of the twentieth century.

Other buildings by him include the Kingo Housing Estate (1956-58), Fredensborg Housing Estate (1959-62), Bagsvaerd Church (1973-76e the Skagen Nature Center (2001), all in Denmark and the Dunkers Cultural Center (2002) in Halsingborg (Sweden), Kuwait National Assembly (1972-82).

The prize – 100 thousand dollars – is the most prestigious of architectural awards and is given out every year. Previous winners include Philip Johnson (the first to receive it in 1979), Glenn Murcutt, Richard Meier, Rem Koolhaas, Renzo Piano and Frank Gehry. The jury this year included Lord Rothschild, Frank Gehry, Ada Louise Huxtable, Carlos Jimenez, Jorge Silvetti, Giovanni Agnelli (former president of Fiat, who died recently), and Bill Lacy (executive director).

Utzon who lives in Spain on the island of Majorca, will receive the award 20 May in an official ceremony at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid.

https://www.pritzkerprize.com