SANAA founders Ryue Nishizawa and Kazuyo Sejima have been named to receive the esteemed 2025 Le Prix Charlotte Perriand by the Créateurs Design Association & Awards (CDA).

This accolade affirms their reputation as forward-thinking industry leaders by recognizing their incomparable contributions to contemporary architecture and design.

The founding partners of the globally recognized architectural firm SANAA, Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, were praised for being "at the forefront of architectural innovation", and for their "minimalist yet profound designs that harmoniously blend form, function, and environment."

CDA, SANAA. Illustration by Yohei Sugiyam

Their work has continuously pushed the limits of modern architecture, gaining them recognition and honors around the world, including the 2010 Pritzker Architecture Prize.

"It is a great honor to receive an award that bears such a great name," said Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa. 

"Charlotte Perriand is one of the masters of modern architecture, and we admire her delicate interior and furniture designs," Sejima and Nishizawa added.

Bocconi University campus. Image courtesy of SANAA

Every year, the top designs, architects, and creative arts are recognized with the Créateurs Design Awards. By honoring exceptional accomplishments and encouraging creativity, the awards aim to raise and motivate the international design community.

The Créateurs Design Association & Awards established the Prix Charlotte Perriand, also known as the Charlotte Perriand Award, in 2022. The prize pays tribute to Charlotte Perriand's legacy and celebrates her life.

Ghanian-British architect David Adjaye, the founder of Adjaye Associates, was awarded the inaugural Charlotte Perriand Award in 2022.

The 21st Century Museum of Art, Kanazawa. Image courtesy of SANAA

SANAA was founded in 1995 by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa. 

The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, built in 2004, was one of the first notable projects. Both residents and visitors now adore the urban park that seamlessly integrates into the city.

New Museum of Contemporary Art, USA, 2007. Image © Dean Kaufman

Other major works include De Kunstlinie Theater and Cultural Centre, Almere, Netherlands, 2006, New Museum of Contemporary Art, USA, 2007, Rolex Learning Center, Switzerland, 2009, Louvre-Lens, France, 2012, Grace Farms, USA, 2015, Bocconi University New Urban Campus, Italy, 2020, La Samaritaine, France, 2021, and the New Campus of the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, 2022.

SANAA recently completed the Sydney Modern Project - the transformation of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Sydney Modern Project. Image © Iwan Baan

Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa have received numerous awards, including the renowned Pritzker Prize in 2010, the Architectural Institute of Japan Award in 2006 and the Praemium Imperiale award for architecture in 2022.

Kazuyo Sejima was awarded the Jane Drew Prize for Architecture 2023 for her work and commitment to design excellence and her contribution to raising the profile of women in architecture.

The New Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium in Japan, the Taichung Green Museumbrary in Taiwan, the MIT Music Building in the United States, and the Suzhou Shishan Square Art Theater in China are among the current SANAA projects.

Last year, Mexican architect Frida Escobedo was named the 2024 Le Prix Charlotte Perriand. In 2023, Jeanne Gang was named as the second winner of the Charlotte Perriand Award.

Top image in the article: Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, courtesy of SANAA.

> via Créateurs Design Association & Awards

Kazuyo Sejima Le Prix Charlotte Perriand Award Ryue Nishizawa SANAA