Liu Jiakun

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Liu Jiakun
刘家琨
Born1956 (age 68–69)
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
CitizenshipChinese
Education Chongqing University (Bachelor of Engineering in Architecture)
OccupationArchitect
Awards
PracticeJiakun Architects
Buildings
  • Luyeyuan Stone Sculpture Art Museum
  • Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Sculpture Department
  • West Village (Chengdu)
  • Suzhou Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick
  • Tianbao Cave District renovation
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese 刘家琨
Traditional Chinese 劉家琨
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Liú Jiākūn
IPA [ljǒʊ tɕjá.kʰwə́n]
Website Jiakun Architects

Liu Jiakun (born 1956) is a Chinese architect known for his focus on minimalism, humanism, and locally contextual design. In 2025, he won the Pritzker Prize. [1] [2] Liu's work emphasises local context and materials, and many of his buildings were constructed in his home city of Chengdu.

Contents

Early life and education

Liu was born in Chengdu, in the Sichuan Province of China. [3] His mother was an internist doctor at Chengdu Second People's Hospital. [4] [5] As a 17-year old during the Cultural Revolution, he was sent to the countryside to serve as a laborer, as part of the country's zhiqing (rusticated youth) program. [5] [2] Initially aspiring to be an artist, he was drawn to architecture due to its connection with drawing and design. He graduated in 1982 from the Chongqing Institute of Architecture and Engineering (now part of Chongqing University) with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Architecture. [5]

Career

After graduation, Liu worked at the state-owned Chengdu Architectural Design and Research institute. [2] He later spent time in the Tibet and Xinjiang autonomous regions of China, exploring art and literature. He returned to architecture in 1993 after being inspired by an exhibition by former classmate Tang Hua (Chinese :汤桦). [6]

In 1999, he founded Jiakun Architects in Chengdu. [5]

Exhibitions and international recognition

Liu's designs have been exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Architecture Biennale and a solo exhibition at Berlin's AEDES Gallery. In 2018, he was commissioned to design the Serpentine Pavilion in Beijing. [7]


References

  1. ↑ Wainwright, Oliver (4 March 2025). "'I aspire to be like water': the exquisite buildings of Liu Jiakun, winner of architecture's top prize". The Guardian . Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Pogrebin, Robin (4 March 2025). "Chinese Architect Liu Jiakun Wins Pritzker Prize". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  3. ↑ Hebei Network Radio and Television Station; Wu Na (5 March 2025). "普利兹克得主刘家琨，在赤水河畔郎酒庄园"用建筑写诗"-中宏网". 中宏网-今日新闻-财经新闻 (in Chinese). Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  4. ↑ Ulaby, Neda (4 March 2025). "Chinese architect Liu Jiakun wins the 2025 Pritzker Prize". NPR. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Biography of Liu Jiakun". www.pritzkerprize.com. Chicago, IL: The Hyatt Foundation . Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  6. ↑ Holland, Oscar (4 March 2025). "Pritzker Prize 2025: China's Liu Jiakun awarded 'Nobel of architecture'". CNN. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  7. ↑ Fakharany, Nour (4 March 2025). "International Exhibitions of Liu Jiakun" . Retrieved 4 March 2025.
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