Pritzker Architecture Prize has been awarded to Liu Jiakun of China, who earned the field’s highest honor for “affirming architecture that celebrates the lives of ordinary citizens.”

Speaking to CNN ahead of Tuesday’s announcement, the founder of one of China’s first private architecture firms reflects on a career designing unpretentious buildings in an era of excess.

Today, the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize was awarded to Chinese architect Liu Jiakun, a Chengdu-based talent whose human-centered designs aim to elevate everyday life. The 69-year-old architect and founder of Jiakun Architects has created over 30 projects,