Pritzker laureate wants architects to focus on 'small but beautiful'

Chengdu-based architect Liu Jiakun was announced as the 54th laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize on Tuesday, making him the second winner from China for the highest accolade in the international architecture field.

During the two sessions, Wang Shu, the 2012 Pritzker recipient and who is also a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told China Daily on Wednesday that Liu's win is encouraging news for Chinese architects.

"His works are very local, yet modern, directly addressing the challenges facing the transformation of contemporary Chinese cities," said Wang, also director of the School of Architecture, China Academy of Art based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Based in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province, representative works of Liu, a novelist-turned-architect, include the West Village and the Luyeyuan Stone Sculpture Art Museum in Chengdu, with a preference to traditional craft and raw local materials that sustain the economy and environment, built for and by the community.

Wang noted that for years, an important aspect of architects' work has been to pursue a "small but beautiful" living environment for ordinary people. This aligns with the Government Work Report delivered on Wednesday, which emphasizes coordinated implementation of major landmark projects alongside "small but beautiful" programs to improve people's livelihood.

He emphasized the need for Chinese architects to adjust their mindset, visions and goals, drawing on materials rooted in real life and tradition.

Wang pointed out that many architects and government bodies are accustomed to large construction programs, whose working methods differ significantly from those required for urban regeneration — a current trend and future direction of urban development.

"Urban regeneration requires more subtle and slower work. It's so diverse and concrete that there's no existing pattern to refer to. We need to constantly explore," Wang said.

However, the younger generation will find plenty of opportunities in the progress of urban regeneration. Wang encouraged them to base their creations on solid research and investigation and engage in more exploratory work, while not being tempted by the pursuit of quick success.

He stressed the importance of long-term commitment and staying true to their original intentions.