Souto de Moura, Praemium Imperiale 2025

DATE

21.07.2025

Granted annually by the Japan Art Association, this award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the arts at an international level. The Portuguese architect is celebrated for his ability to merge tradition and modernity, creating works that engage deeply with the context in which they are placed, maintaining a strong connection with both history and place.

Souto de Moura, who began his career working alongside Álvaro Siza—another key figure in Portuguese architecture, with both having ties to MArch—has developed a body of work distinguished by its sensitivity and precision. With an austere yet elegant aesthetic, his designs exemplify how architecture can address themes such as memory, place, and the passage of time. Among his most emblematic projects are the Municipal Stadium of Braga, the Casa das Artes in Porto, and the renovation of the Casa da Música, all of which demonstrate his mastery in manipulating space and light.

This recognition—awarded to architects who have significantly influenced the evolution of the discipline—comes at a key moment in Souto de Moura’s career. He has firmly established himself as one of the great names in contemporary architecture. His restrained yet deeply poetic approach has earned him international acclaim, with his work featured in major biennials and exhibitions, and having received several accolades throughout his career, including the 2011 Pritzker Prize, which further solidified his global prestige.

The Praemium Imperiale not only highlights the quality of Souto de Moura’s architectural work, but also the importance of his legacy in architectural education. His ability to inspire and his commitment to an architecture that respects and enriches its environment have made him a key figure in the training of new generations of architects. This award reinforces his global influence and continues to demonstrate that architecture is, more than ever, a fundamental discipline for understanding and shaping our societies.

MARCH VALENCIA | ARQUITECTURA Y DISEÑO

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