Zaha Hadid Awarded Praemium Imperiale for Architecture by the Japan Art Association

British Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid has been awarded the prestigious Praemium Imperiale Award for Architecture by the Japan Art Association.

“It is indeed an honor to receive this recognition from the Japan Art Association.” said Hadid. “Working in Japan has been critical to the development of my work around the world. I will always be grateful for this support early in my career. My Japanese clients shared a passion for architecture - allowing us to investigate many things and design very powerful projects, interesting in their complexity and essential in developing our repertoire of work. Through our architecture, we can enthuse people and make them excited about new ideas.”

The other Praemium Imperiale laureates for 2009 are: Painting - Hiroshi Sugimoto; Sculpture - Richard Long; Music - Alfred Brendel; Theater/Film: Tom Stoppard.

On October 22, the laureates will travel to Japan to attend the Awards Ceremony, presided over by the honorary patron of the Japan Art Association, Prince Hitachi, younger brother of the present Emperor of Japan. Each laureate will receive a prize of 15 million yen ($165,000).

Hadid inherits the title from 2008 laureate Peter Zumthor. Previous laureates include Frank Gehry, Renzo Piano, David Hockney, James Stirling, Anthony Caro, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Richard Attenborough, John Gielgud, Peter Brook, Richard Rogers, Tony Cragg, Norman Foster, Bridget Riley and Richard Hamilton.

Zaha Hadid previously on Bustler:

• Zaha Hadid’s Futuristic Burnham Pavilion for Chicago
• JS Bach / Zaha Hadid Architects Chamber Music Hall for Manchester International Festival
• Zaha Hadid Architects Win Cairo Expo City Competition
• Stone Towers by Zaha Hadid
• Zaha Hadid to Design New Port House in Antwerp
• Zaha Hadid Architects Wins Competition for Library and Learning Center in Vienna