Liu Jiakun, the newly announced 2025 Pritzker Prize winner, is recognized for his mindful and socially considerate approach to architecture, making strides toward redefining the architectural practice in China. Unveiled on March 4, 2025, the Prize, often heralded as the Nobel of architecture, honors those whose work reflects community needs over individual styles—a principle Liu has embodied throughout his career.
Jiakun, who founded Jiakun Architects in Chengdu, China, has crafted over 30 projects focusing primarily on practical public spaces, academic buildings, and cultural institutions. Many of his creations channel the spirit of their specific locations, promoting human connection and enriching the daily lives of those who interact with these structures. Alejandro Aravena, Jury Chair of the Pritzker Prize, noted how Liu's architecture integrates multiple aspects of urban life, asserting, "Cities tend to segregate functions, but Liu Jiakun takes the opposite approach and sustains a delicate balance to integrate all dimensions of urban life."
Born in Chengdu, China, in 1956, Liu's childhood was marked by hardship during the Great Chinese Famine. His early experience was deeply intertwined with the Chengdu hospital where his mother worked. Within this milieu, his aptitude for arts emerged, yet he found his teenage years interrupted by the Cultural Revolution when he was sent to labor on farms as part of Mao Zedong's “re-education” efforts.
Upon the reopening of universities post-Cultural Revolution, Liu enrolled at the Chongqing Institute of Architecture and Engineering, graduating in 1982. He briefly worked at the state-run Chengdu Architectural Design Institute but grew disillusioned by the limitations posed by the regime’s rigid structure, stating, "It was a day job, but my real interest was writing." After a decade of soul-searching, which included periods of meditation and literary pursuits, Liu returned to architecture when inspired by attending his former classmate’s exhibition.
With the establishment of Jiakun Architects in 1999, Liu began to forge his own path—one where design was not bound by established norms or aesthetics. Instead, he fosters community-centric architecture, often collaborating with local craftsmen to enrich his work. Liu explained his methodology poetically, stating, "I try my best to penetrate and understand the place... then, when the time is right, it will solidify, and the idea of the building will appear."
One of his innovative accomplishments has been the use of "rebirth bricks," created using rubble from the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. The technique not only allows for the reuse of materials but also serves as a symbolic act of recovery. This novel idea was prominently utilized in the Hu Huishan Memorial, built to honor a local girl who perished during the disaster; the memorial serves as both tribute and pragmatic design, integrating local cultural elements.
Jiakun's architectural legacy also includes the Luyeyuan Stone Sculpture Art Museum, which harmonizes with its bamboo forest environment, and the expansive West Village project—a multi-purpose community hub reflecting the essence of urban life. West Village encompasses varied facilities, including recreational spaces and commercial venues, seamlessly integrated within its multi-layered design, demonstrating Liu's unwavering commitment to optimizing public space even within high-density environments.
Notably, Liu's designs draw inspiration from traditional Chinese architecture; he successfully reinterprets historical motifs and principles to create modern solutions without being nostalgic. He posits, "If we focus on the superficial results, we will stop at the historical time. But if we focus on the themes... we can continue the tradition," continuing the dialogue between the past and the present.
Reflecting on his winning the Pritzker Prize, Liu remarked, "A fixed style is a double-edged sword. It can make others to recall you quickly, but it also binds you and makes you lose certain freedom." This perspective underpins his belief systems as he embraces local materials, ensuring architecture gracefully grows from its environment rather than imposing rigid structures.
Over his four-decade career, Liu Jiakun has emerged as one of China's leading architects, using his expertise to propose thoughtful, weighty contributions to sustainable urban landscapes against the backdrop of rapid urbanization. His commitment to creating buildings with contextual narratives leads us to reimagine our interactions with architecture, challenging the norms and expectations of modern design through simplicity and authenticity.
Though primarily focused on projects within China, Liu expresses openness to international work, believing his methodology can adapt globally as long as he is familiar with the local contexts. "From the perspective of method and methodology, there is actually no problem doing it abroad," he affirms, showing readiness to engage at multiple levels of architectural practice, from local to international.
With this prestigious award, Liu Jiakun not only receives recognition for his architectural contributions but also reinforces the importance of creating spaces for communities. His buildings, imbued with deep cultural significance and grounded ingenuity, hold the potential to inspire future architects to prioritize empathy, history, and sustainability over mere stylistic triumphs.