Chilean architect Smiljan Radić Clarke has been announced as the laureate of the 2026 Pritzker Architecture Prize, widely regarded as the most prestigious international award in architecture. The 55th edition jury recognized his three-decade-long career, distinguished by a design approach that emphasizes the experiential dimension of architecture, its relationship with the surrounding context, and the inherent fragility as a constitutive condition of built space.
Established in 1979 by Jay A. and Cindy Pritzker, the award aims to highlight architecture’s vital role in public life by honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to the built environment. Laureates receive a $100,000 prize, an official certificate, and a bronze medallion inscribed with the Vitruvian principles of firmness, utility, and delight (firmitas, utilitas, venustas). Past winners include Philip Johnson, Luis Barragán (1980), Renzo Piano (1998), Zaha Hadid (2004), Frank Gehry, Shigeru Ban, and Francis Kéré (2022). The 2025 prize was awarded to Chinese architect Liu Jiakun.
Born in Santiago, Chile, in 1965, Radić comes from a multicultural family background, with Croatian paternal grandparents from Brač island and British maternal roots. This diverse heritage profoundly shaped his approach to architecture, which he views as a process of identity construction and a space open to multiple historical and cultural references.
After graduating from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in 1989, Radić continued his education at the Venice University Institute of Architecture. This experience deepened his interest in architectural history, philosophy, and the connections between visual arts and design. In 1995, he founded his studio, Smiljan Radić Clarke, in Santiago, deliberately maintaining a small structure and an approach that eschews repetitive formal languages in favor of independent design inquiry.
The jury’s citation states that Radić’s work stands “at the intersection of uncertainty, material experimentation, and cultural memory.” His projects often employ forms that appear temporary, unstable, or deliberately unfinished. However, this apparent fragility does not imply precariousness; instead, his architectures are conceived as protective and deeply human spaces, capable of evoking emotional experiences and inviting visitors to slow down and observe the world with greater attention.
Among his most renowned works are the Mestizo Restaurant (Santiago, 2006), the Pite House (Papudo, 2005), and the Regional Biobío Theater (Concepción, 2018), alongside the House for the Poem of the Right Angle (Vilches, 2013), conceived as a place for contemplation and reflection. His creations are often characterized by a measured use of materials such as concrete, stone, wood, and glass, skillfully combined to modulate light, sound, and spatial perception.
A pivotal project that solidified his international reputation was the Serpentine Pavilion in London, completed in 2014. This temporary structure, consisting of a semi-transparent fiberglass shell resting on large stone boulders, offered visitors shelter while maintaining an open connection with the surrounding environment.
Throughout his career, Radić has undertaken projects of various scales and typologies, from private residences to cultural buildings and temporary installations, across numerous countries including Albania, Austria, Croatia, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In 2017, he also founded the Fundación de Arquitectura Frágil in Santiago, a research and exchange platform dedicated to architectural experimentation and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Alejandro Aravena, jury chair and 2016 Pritzker laureate, remarked that Radić’s method “responds with radical originality to each project, returning to the most essential principles of architecture while simultaneously exploring uncharted territories.” The jury also highlighted how his practice successfully demonstrates that influential architecture can emerge even from contexts perceived as peripheral and marginal, significantly impacting the international discourse.
The official award ceremony will, as is customary, take place at a significant architectural site chosen annually by the Pritzker Foundation.
