The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced Rem Koolhaas as the recipient of the 2012 Jencks Award. Given annually to an individual (or practice) that has recently made a major contribution internationally to both the theory and practice of architecture, the award will be presented to Koolhaas on November 20th at the RIBA in London. The event will also feature a public lecture by Koolhaas, chaired by architectural theorist Charles Jencks.
The RIBA stated: “Through his research and experimentation as well as his built projects and literature, Rem Koolhaas consciously works to deepen and expand the intrinsic connection between architecture and contemporary culture.”
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As founder of OMA, the Rotterdam-based architect has won the RIBA Royal Gold Medal, the Pritzker Prize and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2010 Venice Biennale. Among his major works is the Seattle Public Library and the Central China Television headquarters in Beijing. Both, the Maggie’s Centre in Glasgow and the new Rothschilds Bank in London are on this year’s Stirling Prize shortlist.
Charles Jencks stated: “Rem Koolhaas, more than any other architect of his generation, has built a parallel life between the theory and practice of architecture.”
Previous winners of the Jencks Award include Eric Owen Moss, Zaha Hadid, Foreign Office Architects, Peter Eisenman, Cecil Balmond, UNStudio, Wolf D. Prix & Coop Himmelb(l)au, Charles Correa and Steven Holl.
