A modest structure in the outskirts of Beijing, built by Chinese architect Li Xiaodong, has been chosen as the first winner of the Moriyama RAIC International Prize. The winning structure is the Liyuan Library, opened in 2012 in the village of Jiaojiehe, which the jury describes thus: ‘It is a lovely object in a dramatic landscape, a wondrous thing to use and be in.”

image soruce:uia.archi

Mr. Li describes his practice in the following way: “What I am trying to do in my own practice might be described as reflexive regionalism,” he said. “It’s more about identifying original conditions than inventing original forms. It’s about combining technology,community, local materials, modern thinking and a traditional sense of identity.”

In addition to recognizing architectural quality, this $100 000 CAD prize demonstrates Raymond Moriyama’s passion for humanist architecture that transforms society by focusing on social justice, equality and integration.

The Moriyama Prize also has a student category, and the first three winners are: Loïc Jasmin, University of Montréal, Benny Kwok, Dalhousie University, and Shu Yin Wu, University of Waterloo.

please see the project on WA:http://www.worldarchitecture.org/authors-links/chhmn/li-xiaodong-of-china-wins-the-first-100000-moriyama-raic-international-prize.html

> via uia.archi