In his speech, the Spanish minister said that, "throughout his successful and prolific career, Rafael Moneo has dignified the wonderful world of architecture, given us buildings that will stay forever in the memory of those who see and enjoy them, and also achieved that difficult goal of going beyond simple structural calculation and mere aesthetic compromise".
Rafael Moneo Vallés
José Rafael Moneo Vallés was born in Tudela (Navarra) in 1937. He graduated from the Madrid School of Architecture in 1961. In 1970, he became Chair of Elements of Composition at the Barcelona School of Architecture and took over the same position at the Madrid School of Architecture from1980 until 1985, when he was appointed Chairman of the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. He held this position until 1990. At present, Rafael Moneo holds the position of Josep Lluis Sert Professor of Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
His most recent projects include: the Prado Museum extension in Madrid (2007); the LISE Building (Laboratory for Integrated Science and Engineering) at Harvard University, Cambridge (2007); the Roman Theatre Museum in Cartagena (2008); the Library for the Deusto University (2009); the laboratories for Novartis in Basel, Switzerland (2009); the "La Romareda" Civic Centre in Zaragoza (2010); a science laboratory for Columbia University, New York (2010); the Riberas de Loiola parish church in San Sebastián (2011); the Conference Centre in Toledo (2012); a neurology and psychology centre at Princeton University, New Jersey (2014); and the Navarre University Museum in Pamplona (2008-2014).
Rafael Moneo combines his role as an architect with that of conference speaker and critique. Co-founder of the magazine Arquitecturas Bis, texts by Rafael Moneo have been published in numerous professional magazines and the presentation of his work through exhibitions and conferences has taken him to institutions on both sides of the Atlantic. He published the book entitled Theoretical Anxiety and Design Strategies in the Work of Eight Contemporary Architects in 2005, which has been translated into seven languages. His book entitled Apuntes sobre 21 obras (Gili) and Remarks on 21 Works (Monacelli) were released simultaneously in September 2010.
Rafael Moneo has received various awards, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1996 and the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2003. Elected as academic of Fine Arts in 1997, he took up his position in early 2005. In 2006, the Higher Council of Colleges of Architects of Spain presented him with the Gold Medal for Spanish Architecture and, in 2012, he received the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts.
National Architecture Award
The National Architecture Award has existed for over 80 years and is presented to distinguish an individual or legal entity that contributes or has contributed in an extraordinary manner through their specific works or their work as a whole to the enrichment of social, technological and sustainable aspects of Spanish architecture or urban planning both within Spain and further afield.
Rafael Moneo was put forward for this year's award by the AV/Arquitectura Viva architecture magazines.
Ministerio de Fomento