Anne Lacaton & Jean-Philippe Vassal

The work of Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal reflects the democratic spirit of architecture. Through their ideas, professional approach and the buildings they have created, they have demonstrated that it is possible to pursue a restorative architecture that is at once technological, innovative and ecologically sensitive without falling into nostalgia. This has been the mantra of Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal's team since they founded their Paris-based firm in 1987. Not only have they defined an architectural approach that renews the legacy of modernism, but they have also proposed an adjusted definition of the profession of architecture itself. Modernist hopes and dreams of improving the lives of many are revitalised through his work, which responds to the climatic and ecological emergencies of our time, as well as to social urgencies, especially in the field of urban housing. They achieve this through a powerful sense of space and materials that creates an architecture strong both in its forms and its convictions, as transparent in its aesthetics as in its ethics. Beautiful and pragmatic at the same time, they reject any opposition between architectural quality, environmental responsibility and the quest for an ethical society.

For over 30 years, his critical approach to architecture has embodied the generosity of space, ideas, uses and economy of means, materials, forms and configurations. This approach has led to innovative projects for residential, cultural, educational and commercial buildings. From their first projects, such as the Latapie House, a private house in Bordeaux, and civic works such as the proposal for the Human Sciences Centre in Saint-Denis or the Nantes School of Architecture , they have shown sensitivity and warmth in the user experience of their buildings. Architects have said that buildings are beautiful when people feel good in them, when the light inside is beautiful and the air is pleasant, and when there is an easy flow between inside and outside.

The notion of belonging and responsibility towards a larger whole involves not only human beings, but the planet as a whole. From very early on, Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal have consistently broadened the notion of sustainability to understand it as a true balance between its economic, environmental and social pillars. Its work has manifested itself through a variety of projects that actively address accountability in these three dimensions.

The practice begins each project with a process of discovery that includes intense observation and assessment of what already exists. In the case of the 1996 assignment, Plaza Léon Aucoc, their approach was simply to do the minimal work of replacing the gravel, treating the lime trees and slightly modifying the traffic, all to give new potential to what was already there.

In their housing projects for the transformation of the Tour Bois le Prêtre building in Paris and three buildings in the Grand Parc district of Bordeaux (both done with Frédéric Druot), instead of demolition and reconstruction, they carefully added space to the existing buildings in the form of generous extensions, winter gardens and balconies that allow freedom of use and thus support the real life of the residents. There is a humility in the approach that respects the aims of the original designers and the aspirations of today's occupants.

For the FRAC Nord-Pas de Calais cultural centre in Dunkerque, it was decided to keep the original hall and add a second hall of similar dimensions to the existing building. There is no nostalgia for the past. Rather, they seek transparency, openness and brightness with respect for what has been inherited, as well as acting responsibly in the present. Today, a building that once went unnoticed becomes an iconic element in a renewed cultural and natural landscape.

Through the belief that architecture is more than just buildings, through the problems they address and the proposals they make, through forging a responsible and sometimes lonely path that illustrates that the best architecture can be humble and always thoughtful, respectful and responsible, they have shown that architecture can have a great impact on our communities and contribute to the awareness that we are not alone. Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal have been awarded the Pritzker Prize 2021 for all their current and future work.