Frei Otto Wins 2015 Pritzker Prize

Frei Otto is known for the design of lightweight tent structures, which he pioneered in the 1950s and 1960s and realized to beautiful effect in the roofing for 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, his most well known project, designed with Günter Behnisch. Explorations of lightweight structures occurred through subsequent commissions as well as through the Institute for Lightweight Structures at the University of Stuttgart (now headed by Werner Sobek) and other institutions he founded. The jury, in their citation, recognized this main strand of his long career: "The lessons of his pioneering work in the field of lightweight structures that are adaptable, changeable and carefully use limited resources are as relevant today as when they were first proposed over 60 years ago."

In their citation the jury pointed out that Otto often designed in collaboration with other architects: “He was often approached to form part of a team to tackle complex architectural and structural challenges. The inventive results attest to outstanding collective efforts of multidisciplinary teams.” A notable example of collaboration is the Japan Pavilion Expo 2000 Hannover designed with Shigeru Ban, the 2014 Pritzker Prize laureate. 

The announcement of the prize was schedule for March 23, but it was rushed upon news of Otto’s death at the age of 89. The Pritzker Prize honors living architects and this is the first time the recipient has died before the announcement. Nevertheless Otto was aware he had won the prize, as Pritzker executive director Martha Thorne flew to Stuttgart earlier this year to notify him, according to the New York Times. The award ceremony will go ahead as scheduled on May 15 in Miami, with past Pritzker laureates speaking about Frei Otto’s inspirational work and lasting significance.