British architect John Pawson has been recognized on the British new year’s honours list for his services to design and architecture. Pawson will receive the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), as part of the Queen's biannual honours programme. 

Crowned by Queen Elizabeth, the full New Year Honours List for 2019 recognises the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) announced awards given to 1,148 people, demonstrating the breadth of service given by people from all backgrounds from all across the UK. 

The Design Museum in London. Image © Gareth Gardner

The Diplomatic Service and Overseas New Year 2019 Honours List recognises extraordinary people in a range of fields overseas including voluntary and charitable work, education, health, assistance to British nationals overseas, the arts and conservation.

Apart from Pawson, awards include a damehood for model, actress and singer Lesley Lawson (aka Twiggy); a knighthood for record breaking cricketer Alastair Cook following his retirement from international cricket; a knighthood for award-winning author Philip Pullman, for services to literature; a knighthood for Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust; CBE for award winning actress Sophie Okonedo; a CBE for musician Nicola Benedetti; a CBE for children’s author Julia Donaldson; a CBE for journalist Chris Packham; an OBE for Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas; an MBE for Paralympic Head Coach Paula Dunn; and following England’s successful World Cup run in the Summer, an OBE for England Football manager Gareth Southgate; and an MBE for captain Harry Kane.

John Pawson has spent over thirty years making rigorously simple architecture that speaks of the fundamentals but is also modest in character. His body of work spans a broad range of scales and typologies, from private houses, sacred commissions, galleries, museums, hotels, ballet sets, yacht interiors and a bridge across a lake. 

Life House in Llanbister, UK. Image © Gilbert McCarragher

Pawson, 68, was born in Yorkshire. After a period in the family textile business he left for Japan, spending several years teaching English at the University of Nagoya. Following his return to England, he enrolled at the Architectural Association in London, establishing his own practice in 1981.

His notable projects include London's Design Museum, Life House in Llanbister, Armonia Apartments in Athens, Paros House III in Paros, Greece. 

Top image: John Pawson, image © Cindy Palmano

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