French architect and urban planner Christian de Portzamparc has been named as the 2018 Praemium Imperiale Laureate by the Japan Art Association (JAA). On Wednesday, July 11, the JAA has announced the names of the five new Praemium Imperiale Laureates in London, New York, Paris, Rome, Berlin and Tokyo.

This year's 5 recipients are named as Pierre Alechinsky for Painting, Fujiko Nakaya for Sculpture, Christian Portzamparc for Architecture, Riccardo Muti for Music and Catherine Deneuve for Theatre/Film.

Cidade das Artes, Rio de Janeiro. Image © Nelson Kon

Celebrating its 30th year, the award is given to the individuals for their achievements and for the impact they have had internationally on the arts, and for their role in enriching the global community.

Each laureate will receive an honorarium of 15 million yen and a testimonial letter. Medals will be presented by Prince Hitachi, honorary patron of the Japan Art Association, at an award ceremony held in Tokyo on October 23, 2018.

Hotel Renaissance, Paris, 2009. Image courtesy of Christian de Portzamparc

The Japan Art Association has awarded the architect for "his imaginative architectural style is known for its distinctive features such as bold designs, an artistic approach and the creativity that comes from him also as a watercolor painter." Portzamparc was also praised for "his esteemed personality as a designer of concert halls." 

Philharmonie Luxembourg, 2005. Image courtesy of Christian de Portzamparc

Philharmonie Luxembourg, 2005. Image courtesy of Christian de Portzamparc

Christian de Portzamparc was awarded with the Pritzker Architecture Prize at the age of 50 as the first French winner. He studied architecture at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris. He then moved to New York living in the artistic community during 1966, and in 1970, he graduated from the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts. He established Atelier Christian de Portzamparc in 1980 and started his career as an architect.

Winery Cheval Blanc, Paris, 2011. Image © Erik Saillet

Portzamparc gained an international recognition after he completed the Cite de la Musique - West Wing in the early 1990s in Paris. The project was designed as a large scale project which involved creating music halls of different sizes, a music museum and many dwelling places. 

Christian Dior's flagship store in Seoul. Image © Nicolas Borel

His important works include NexusⅡ (1991), an residential complex in Fukuoka, LVMH Tower (1991), a skyscraper of New York, Philharmonie Luxembourg (2005), City of Arts (2013), a cultural complex in Rio de Janeiro, and Paris La Défense Arena (2017 ), an indoor stadium in Nanterre, on the outskirts of Paris. 

Portzamparc completed a new Christian Dior's flagship store in Seoul. The architect is currently working a large scale project in China, Suzhou Cultural Center, scheduled to be completed in 2019.

Last year, Spanish architect Rafael Moneo had been named as the winner of the 2017 Praemium Imperiale International Arts Award for Architecture by the Japan Art Association (JAA).

Top image courtesy of Praemium Imperiale 

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