Tatiana Bilbao named 2019 winner of the $100,000 Marcus Prize

Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao has been selected as the recipient of the 2019 Marcus Prize. Awarded every two years by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning, the $100,000 award recognizes architects deemed to be "on a trajectory to greatness" with a cash prize and supported design studio. Bilbao follows Jeanne Gang, who was selected in 2017 for her proven, exceptional practice.

Selected from a pool of nominees from 14 countries and five continents, Bilbao was chosen because her work "has something for everyone," said jury member Matt Messner. “Along with complex social and cultural considerations, her work is formally and materially rich. She is an organizer, instigator and thought leader in her native Mexico, as well as around the world through her teaching and practice,” he added.

Since starting her eponymous studio in 2004, Bilbao has built up an impressive body of work, and a long list of accolades to show for it. Recently completed works include her Ventura House in Monterrey, Mexico—a cluster of concrete blocks—and a vacation home nearby made from mirrored glass, rammed earth and clay bricks.