American architect, planner, writer, educator, and principal of the firm Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates Denise Scott Brown has been named as the recipient of the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Lisbon Architecture Triennale. 

The Lifetime Achievement Award by the Lisbon Architecture Triennale is given to "an active atelier or individual whose approach is relevant, impelling their career." This talent—individual or collective—is elected by an international jury that discusses this relevance and the awarded is chosen my plural voices. 

This year, the Lisbon Architecture Triennale has presented the award to Denise Scott Brown. With a consistent practice throughout her life, the architect, planner and urban designer, educator, writer, and theorist remains an icon and an inspiring reference in the world of architecture. 

Denise Scott Brown in front of The Strip, Las Vegas, NV, US, 1966. Image by Robert Venturi, courtesy of Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates, Inc.

Born in Zambia (and growing up in South Africa), Scott Brown moved to the United States of America, from where she profoundly influenced architectural thought, along with her late husband, Robert Venturi.

The jury – comprised of Amale Andraos, Cláudia Taborda, Enrique Walker, Éric Lapierre, Kunlé Adeyemi, Momoyo Kaijima, Sharon Johnston – highlighted that "the contributions to the field of architecture and the built environment. At a time when architects, urban scholars and practitioners are invited to think through all of the scales of the built environment together, Denise Scott Brown’s work stands as an inspiring example of what is possible: moving beyond disciplinary boundaries to project new possibilities for architecture as a form of research and as practice." 

"Lifetime achievements are often recognizing the past, but with this award we are thrilled to be celebrating Denise Scott Brown’s legacy for the future, as a gift to the next generations of architects around the world. Scott Brown taught us freedom," added the jury.

Denise Scott Brown-designed La Jolla building, a portion of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. The La Jolla building of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is on the verge of major transformation. Image © Philipp Scholz Rittermann

The shortlist of the Début Award 2019, which aims to distinguish an architectural practice that has developed consistent and innovative work, is: Bast (France), Bonell+Dòriga (Spain), COMUNAL: Taller de Arquitectura (Mexico), gru.a (Brazil), Lacol (Spain), LANZA Atelier (Mexico), Lluís Alexandre Casanovas Blanco (USA), Norman Kelley (USA), sauermartins (Brasil), SUPERVOID Architects (Italy). The winner studio of the Début Award, will be announced during the opening days of the 5th edition of the Lisbon Architecture Triennale, between 3 to 5 of October, and will deliver a short lecture on their work. 

The list of finalists of the Universities Award 2019 worldwide competition, which invited students to present a proposal of a Community and Interpretive Centre for Marvila, a territory located in the eastern part of Lisbon. The winners of the Universities Awards will also be announced during the opening days of the 5th edition of the Lisbon Architecture Triennale, between October 3 to 5.

The 5th edition of Lisbon Architecture Triennale will be held from October 3rd to December 2nd 2019 under the theme of "The Poetics of Reason" in Lisboa, Portugal. The triennale is held in every three years for the debate, discussion and dissemination of architecture that crosses geographic and disciplinary boundaries.

Top image: Top image: Denise Scott Brown Portrait, 2005, Photo by Frank Hanswijk, courtesy of Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates, Inc.

> via Lisbon Architecture Triennale