The State Hermitage Museum: Hermitage News

"The 2004 Pritzker Prize in the State Hermitage. Prospects for the development of modern architecture in Russia". A press conference and open discussion

On 27 April 2004 a press conference and open discussion were held in the Hermitage Theater in connection with St Petersburg’s playing host to the main international award in the field of architecture - the 2004 Pritzker Prize. The award ceremony will take place on 31 May 2004 in the Hermitage Theater.

The Pritzker Architecture Prize, like the Nobel Prize, is awarded to an architect who has made a significant contribution to the development of modern architecture. Winners of past years from 15 countries around the world have represented very different currents and tendencies. This year’s winner of the Pritzker Prize is Zaha Hadid (Great Britain), who is well known for projects that are inspired by the radical art of the Russian Avantgarde. The ideas of Malevich and El Lisitsky lay at the basis of his diploma work. Later he often looked to forms and images from the revolutionary aesthetics of Russia in the 1920’s.

According to tradition, the country and venue for holding the awards ceremony, which attracts members of the world’s elite, change every year. The decision to deliver the prizes this year in Russia attests to the growing attention being given to the transformations taking place in our country, and also to a growing attention to the city itself, which was created by the genius of Russian and European architects.

Today we are moved not only by the challenge of preserving our historical heritage but also by prospects for developing the urban milieu. Projects by winners of the Pritzker Architecture Prize that were carried out over the past quarter century in a number of different countries around the world show us the broad possibilities that exist within the art of architecture.
The holding of the 2004 awards ceremony in St Petersburg, and in the State Hermitage is undoubtedly a cardinal event which can facilitate the integration of Russia into the world architectural community, draw attention to the issues facing architecture, and raise the authority of architects in contemporary society.

The live television link with Thomas J. Pritzker, founder of the Prize, is made possible by Golden Telecom.

Photo Exhibition of Works by Winners of the Pritzker Prize

Direct television link-up between St Petersburg and Los Angeles

An open discussion in the Hermitage Theater