Five architects, including the designer of the iconic Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris, and one of the most influential American architects of the 20th century, have been named as Honorary Fellows of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC). The 2019 Honorary Fellows exemplify the role that architects play in public life around the world and the evolving diversity of the profession.
The five architects are:
Renzo Piano, born to a working-class Italian family in 1937, became one of the best known 20th-century architects for buildings such as the Pompidou Centre, the London Bridge Tower (The Shard), and the Whitney Museum of American Art. He is now an Italian senator for life and head of a foundation dedicated to promoting the architectural profession.
Denise Scott Brown, Hon. FAIA, born in 1931, has been an outspoken advocate for women in architecture. Her influential book, Learning from Las Vegas: The Forgotten Symbolism of Architectural Form, challenged orthodox ideas about modern architecture. She also pioneered a systematic approach to urban planning that considers “form, forces and function.”
Ivenue Love-Stanley, FAIA is a pioneer who broke many barriers. She was the first African-American woman to graduate from the Georgia Institute of Technology College of Architecture in 1977, and the first African-American woman to become a registered architect in the Southeast. She lectures widely and is a community leader and mentor to students and young architects.
Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA is the first Asian-American woman to be elected as President of the American Institute of Architects (2015). Richter champions the power of architecture and reached millions of listeners with the radio series The Shape of Texas, broadcast for 11 years on NPR-affiliate stations.
Vishaan Chakrabarti, FAIA is a practising architect, professor of design and urban theory at Columbia University, and the author of A Country of Cities: A Manifesto for an Urban America. He lectures and writes about rethinking global urban life in the 21st century.
Honorary fellowship recognizes extraordinary achievement. Piano, Love-Stanley, Richter, and Chakrabarti will be inducted into the RAIC College of Fellows at a ceremony during the RAIC 2019 Festival of Architecture, taking place in Toronto from October 26 to 30.
Piano will deliver the keynote address at the College of Fellows Convocation, and Chakrabarti will be a plenary speaker on the future of architecture. Scott Brown will be honoured at a later date.
Photo L to R: Renzo Piano, Ivenue Love-Stanley, , Denise Scott Brown, Elizabeth Chu Richter, Vishaan Chakrabarti.
