SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Riken Yamamoto, founder and principal architect of Riken Yamamoto & Field Shop, has been awarded the 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize.
The Japanese architect will deliver a talk on his architectural journey at NYU Abu Dhabi's "Crafting Tomorrow: Riken Yamamoto's Architectural Journey" on February 6.
The talk forms part of the 22nd edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival, which has Japan as the guest of honour.
Speaking to Aletihad about his passion for architecture, Yamamoto said: "My father was an electrical engineer and that sparked my interest in becoming an engineer. I was good at art and craft, so I chose architecture. During my university years, I was right in the midst of the student protests."
He shared that while studying at the University of Tokyo, he took part in a community survey, which involved travelling to various settlements across the Mediterranean, Latin America, India and the Middle East.
That experience deepened his interest in social issues and communities, which in turn led him to focus on architecture and city planning.
Yamamoto shared his vision of how architecture will shape the future of urban living, with a focus on sustainability.
"When I create architecture, I do so with the intention of benefiting the local community. I believe that such architecture creates a prosperous future for the people of the local community."
He explained how important it is for communities to pass on their values across generations through design.
He emphasised that architecture and urban spaces are key to connecting the past with the future, and building resilient communities helps ensure those values are carried forward.
"The balance between public and private spaces varies with each architecture. In order to create architecture for the local community, it is necessary to consider and adapt this balance to fit the specific needs of that community," Yamamoto noted.
He cited the example of the Pangyo Housing in South Korea as a successful example of human-centred design achieving resident autonomy.
Yamamoto further highlighted the role architecture plays in addressing global challenges like ageing populations and disaster recovery, by saying: "Architecture can serve as support for the people in the local community. Communities help address issues such as an ageing society and disaster recovery. If we can create a good model, it will set a positive example for the international community as well."
He noted the importance of incorporating cultural identity into designs, with a particular focus on international or diverse urban contexts, and suggested creating a model as an example.
Addressing the key challenges in creating sustainable and resilient architectural solutions, he said: "I take pride in having created architectural solutions that contribute to the sustainability of local communities. What hinders this is nationalism and profit-driven individuals who prioritise global interests without considering the well-being of the local community."
In cities like Abu Dhabi, balancing innovative design with preservation of tradition and cultural values is crucial, he said, adding: "Creating a prosperous community with autonomy and passing on this vision to the next generation is what I consider to be my responsibility as a Pritzker Prize laureate."