After nearly two decades of 'starchitecture' that embraced iconic megastructures in cities like Beijing, the architectural approach is pivoting towards a more human-centered and context-driven philosophy. This change is particularly evident in the recent award of the 2025 Pritzker Prize to Liu Jia Kun, who emphasizes local culture, sustainability, and social engagement through his architecture. The focus is now on designs that integrate with their environment and address community needs rather than merely serving as aesthetic landmarks, signaling a broader global trend in the industry.
For nearly the past two decades, cities around the world embraced 'starchitecture'—futuristic, eye-catching buildings designed by globally renowned architects. In China, this trend was particularly pronounced as rapid urbanization fueled the construction of iconic megastructures like Zaha Hadid's Galaxy SOHO.
However, architecture worldwide has begun shifting toward a more context-driven, human-centered approach, with China emerging as one of the key contributors to this transformation. This year, Liu Jia Kun's 2025 Pritzker Prize further underscores that shift.
This time the jury's decision is highlighting work that leads towards a more human-centered approach to architecture, one that values local culture, sustainability, and social engagement over aesthetic grandeur.
The Pritzker Prize has not always rewarded this context-driven architecture. In the late 20th century and early 2000s, the award often celebrated bold, sculptural designs.
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