Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura has been named as the laureate of the 2025 Praemium Imperiale for Architecture, given by the Japan Art Association (JAA) under the honorary patronage of His Imperial Highness Prince Hitachi, young brother to the Emperor Emeritus of Japan.

Each laureate will receive an honorarium of 15 million yen, or around £77,000. The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain has also been selected by Lord Patten to receive the 5 million yen (about £25,000) Grant for Young Artists.

Alongside the Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura in architecture, Serbian conceptual artist and performer Marina Abramović in sculpture, Scottish painter Peter Doig in painting, Belgian choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker in Theatre/Film, and Hungarian-British classical pianist and conductor András Schiff in music have been awarded.

Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, 2008. Photography © Luis Ferreira Alves, courtesy of Souto de Moura Arquitectos

"All five laureates this year have close ties to the UK. They all share a love of ‘making’ – whereby concept and craft come together to create artistry of the highest order. I am also delighted that the Japan Art Association will celebrate our very own National Youth Theatre – who will be celebrating their 70th anniversary next year and who has produced outstanding work as well as provided pivotal support for generations of young actors as they transition into an often precarious profession," said Lord Patten.

The Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, who was born in Porto, is renowned for his unexpected use of color and his excellent use of brick, steel, concrete, marble, granite, and wood.

As demonstrated by famous projects like the Braga Stadium (2004) and Casa das Histórias Paula Rego (2008), as well as more recent projects like the meticulous conversion of a historic Portuguese farming village into a hotel (São Lourenço do Barrocal, 2017), the practice is well-known throughout the world for its powerful forms and sculptural masses. 

Casa da Música Station, Porto, 2005. Photography © Shun Kambe © The Japan Art Association

The process and completion of this project are similar to many of Souto de Moura's earlier restoration projects, like the Convento Das Bernardas (2012).

The Praemium Imperiale Awards, which cover accomplishments not covered by the Nobel Prizes, have been given out yearly since 1989 in the following categories: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Music, and Theatre/Film.  

House in Zagreb, 2021. Photography © Alessandra Chemollo, courtesy of Souto de Moura Arquitectos

Six International Advisors submit a list to the Japan Art Association, from which the Laureates are chosen. 

The International Advisors for the Awards and their committees are dedicated to searching outside of their own countries for innovative artists to suggest to the Japan Art Association in order to uphold the Awards' mandate to choose applicants who have had a significant worldwide influence in their specific field.

Bruges Congress Center, 2022. Photography © Filip Dujardin, courtesy of Souto de Moura Arquitectos

Previous British winners include Shigeru Ban, Diébédo Francis Kéré, Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, Glenn Murcutt, Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, Mona Hatoum, Anish Kapoor, Antony Gormley, Richard Long, Bridget Riley, Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, David Chipperfield, Judi Dench, Anthony Caro and Tony Cragg.

Eduardo Souto de Moura was also named as the 2019 Arnold W. Brunner Memorial Prize by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Academy's annual award honors over 70 composers, artists, architects, and writers with awards and prizes ranging from $5000 to $100,000. 

The top image in the article: At his office in Porto, Portugal, April 2025. Photography © Shun Kambe © The Japan Art Association.

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