Designwire Daily: from the editors of Interior Design magazine

David Chipperfield to Receive Royal Gold Medal for Architecture

by Sheila Kim | Friday, January 14, 2011 | 1 Comment

Sir David Chipperfield will be joining the ranks of Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Oscar Niemeyer as a recipient of the prestigious Royal Gold Medal for Architecture. Approved personally by Her Majesty the Queen, the award is presented annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects to recognize a lifetime’s work or contribution to the advancement of architecture.

Chipperfield, known for such works as New York’s Bryant Park Hotel and numerous products for companies including Alessi and B&B Italia, is no stranger to honors. A mere two years ago, he received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and last year his collaboration with Julian Harrap on the WWII-damaged Neues Museum in Berlin was shortlisted for RIBA’s Stirling Prize.

The architect will give his Royal Gold Medal lecture, “Searching for Substance” at the RIBA on February 9, and will receive his medal the following day.

Established in 1848, the medal is a gift of the monarch—one of only 25 royal prize medals awarded annually. It is made by the Royal Mint and displays a laurel wreath encircling the RIBA coat of arms and the inscribed name of the recipient.

Photo by Nick Knight.