The Pritzker Architecture Prize was awarded to Carme Pigem in 2017, acknowledging her contributions to the field alongside collaborators Ramon Vilalta and Rafael Aranda. Based in Spain, Pigem maintains a career defined by her work as an architect, urban planner, and landscape architect, consistently shaping environments through a practice that integrates regional context with modern structural demands.
Early Development and Formation
Born in 1962 in Olot, Spain, Pigem completed her initial studies at the Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny d'Olot between 1977 and 1979. She subsequently attended the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura del Vallés, graduating in 1987. Shortly after completing her formal education, she returned to her hometown to establish RCR Arquitectes in collaboration with her fellow graduates, Vilalta and Aranda.
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Pigem has held several teaching positions throughout her career. From 1992 to 1999, she served as a professor of Architectural Projects at the Vallès School of Architecture, where she also acted as a member of the board of examiners for final projects from 1995 to 2004. Between 1997 and 2003, she taught at the Barcelona School of Architecture and served on its examination board. Since 2005, she has contributed to the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich in Switzerland as a visiting professor.
Notable Works and Recognition
The portfolio of RCR Arquitectes includes significant projects such as the Parc de la Pedra Tosca and the Celler Bell-lloc. Her professional output has garnered national and international recognition, including the Premi Nacional d'Arquitectura i Espai Públic. In 2020, she participated in a public appeal supporting the purple economy, which advocated for a cultural renaissance within economic systems, appearing alongside economists and international organizational leaders in publications including El País and Le Monde.
Fast facts
- Born: 1962, Olot, Spain
- Primary Occupation: Architect, urban planner, landscape architect
- Firm: RCR Arquitectes
- Pritzker Architecture Prize: 2017
- Academic Affiliation: ETH Zurich
- Notable Work: Parc de la Pedra Tosca
- Notable Work: Celler Bell-lloc
Questions readers ask
Where did Carme Pigem study architecture?
She studied at the Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny d'Olot and graduated from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura del Vallés in 1987.
Who are her professional partners?
She is a member of RCR Arquitectes alongside Ramon Vilalta and Rafael Aranda.
Achievements
- Notable work: Parc de la Pedra Tosca
- Notable work: Celler Bell-lloc
- Pritzker Architecture Prize
- Premi Nacional d'Arquitectura i Espai Públic
- Trained at Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny d'Olot
