Chilean architect Smiljan Radić Clarke is the winner of the 2026 Pritzker Prize

Born in Santiago, Chile, Smiljan Radić Clarke is the 55th recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, considered the highest honor in the profession. He founded the firm Smiljan Radić Clarke in 1995 and continues to live and work in his hometown, carrying out projects in various countries.

The 2026 Jury Citation states, in part:
“Through a body of work situated at the crossroads of uncertainty, experimentation with materials, and cultural memory, Smiljan Radić values fragility over any unwarranted claim to certainty. His buildings appear temporary, unstable, or deliberately unfinished—almost on the verge of disappearing—yet they provide a structured, optimistic, and quietly joyful shelter, embracing vulnerability as an intrinsic condition of lived experience.”

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The Pritzker Prize, awarded annually since 1979, is often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of architecture” and aims to honor living architects whose work demonstrates talent, vision, and commitment, making significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture.

For more details about the award, visit the official website.

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Check out some of Smiljan Radić Clarke’s projects:

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