designboom daily - special edition

shelley mcnamara and yvonne farrell of grafton architects have been announced as the 2020 laureates of the pritzker architecture prize — the award often referred to as architecture's highest honor. as architects and educators, farrell and mcnamara create spaces that are both respectful and new, highlighting history while denoting a mastery of the urban environment and craft of construction. their work balances strength and delicacy, resulting in modern and impactful structures that never repeat or imitate, but feature their own architectural voice. farrell and mcnamara are the first two recipients of the pritzker prize from ireland.

'within the ethos of a practice such as ours, we have so often struggled to find space for the implementation of such values as humanism, craft, generosity, and cultural connection with each place and context within which we work,' comments mcnamara. 'it is therefore extremely gratifying that this recognition is bestowed upon us and our practice and upon the body of work we have managed to produce over a long number of years. it is also a wonderful recognition of the ambition and vision of the clients who commissioned us and enabled us to bring our buildings to fruition.'

'for their integrity in their approach to both their buildings, as well as the way they conduct their practice, their belief in collaboration, their generosity towards their colleagues, especially as evidenced in such events as the 2018 venice biennale, their unceasing commitment to excellence in architecture, their responsible attitude toward the environment, their ability to be cosmopolitan while embracing the uniqueness of each place in which they work, for all these reasons and more, yvonne farrell and shelley mcnamara are awarded the 2020 pritzker architecture prize,’ the 2020 pritzker prize jury citation states.

discover eight landmark projects by the 2020 pritzker laureates now on designboom.