This Week in Architecture

Wang Shu Tiled Garden, 2010

The big news in architecture this week is the Pritzker Prize award to Wang Shu of the Peoples Republic of China.  This is the first Pritzker to a Chinese citizen.  (Earlier winner I.M. Pei was born in China but a long term resident of the U.S. when he won in 1983.)  All of Wang's works cited by the Pritker committee are located in China, with the exception of his exhibit at the 2010 Venice Biennial of Architecture, which included the lovely Tiled Garden at right.

If you're interested in more awards, ArchDaily is still taking votes for the Best Building of 2011 until March 6.  You can vote in up to 14 categories, including housing, museums, religious architecture, and sports architecture.

And finally, Britain has acquired a pair of new National Historic Sites. The childhood homes of Beatles Paul McCartney and John Lennon in Liverpool have been preserved by the National Trust and will now be listed by English Heritage, a semi-autonomous organization charged with protecting sites of cultural and historic significance.  Official lingo aside, you can check out pics of both houses.  Note the front porch on John Lennon's former home, which Heritage states was "enclosed by his aunt to ensure that she wouldn't be disturbed by the music" when John rehearsed with his new band.

Photo Credit: 2010 Venice Biennial