Rafael Moneo

Rafael Moneo probably sees awards from a certain distance now, but it is still great news that the most influential Spanish architect has been honored in 2017 - year in which he turned 80 - with an award as important as the Praemium Imperiale. It is a distinction that the Imperial House of Japan and the Japan Art Association give yearly since 1989 to five artists in five categories. The laureates each receive 115,000 euros, and this year’s are the painter Shirin Neshat (Iran / United States), the sculptor El Anatsui (Ghana), the composer Youssou N’Dour (Senegal), the dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov (United States / Latvia), and the Navarrese master. Aside from this important recognition, in 2017 Moneo also received the Soane Medal, a replica of the one presented in 1835 to Sir John Soane by the Architects of England in recognition of his services. With the distinction, the Soane Foundation - located in the former home of the British architect on 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields - invited Moneo to deliver the inaugural Soane Annual Lecture, an event celebrated in London on 10 November.