Liu Jiakun

Biography
Liu Jiakun is a Chinese architect and university educator who was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2025, becoming the second Chinese recipient of this architectural award after Wang Shu (2012). Liu Jiakun was born in the Chinese city of Chengdu, where he still lives and works. After completing his bachelor's degree in architecture at Chongqing University in 1982, he focused on rebuilding post-revolutionary China at the beginning of his professional career. A pivotal moment occurred in 1993 when, contemplating leaving architecture, he attended an exhibition by his classmate Tang Hua. This experience reignited his passion and inspiration. It was followed by an intense period of intellectual growth, collaboration with artists and writers, and the refinement of his philosophical stance. In 1999, he founded his own architectural firm, Jiakun Architects, in Chengdu, which blends traditional Chinese elements with contemporary design. At the same time, he is active in social areas. In his work, he avoids stylistic constraints. He relies on adaptive strategies that harmonize collective and individual spaces, fostering empathy and emotional connections to both architecture and community. Through his architecture, users find respite and openness in a dense urban environment and are encouraged to engage in daily activities. The attention given to cultural, historical, and natural elements creates a familiar atmosphere and architecture that is sensitively integrated into its surroundings.