Liu Jiakun
Liu Jiakun is a Chinese architect known for his focus on minimalism, humanism, and locally contextual design. In 2025, he won the Pritzker Prize. Liu's work emphasises local context and materials, and many of his buildings were constructed in his home city of Chengdu.
Early life and education
Liu was born in Chengdu, in the Sichuan Province of China. His mother was an internist doctor at Chengdu Second People's Hospital. As a 17-year old during the Cultural Revolution, he was sent to the countryside to serve as a laborer, as part of the country's zhiqing program. Initially aspiring to be an artist, he was drawn to architecture due to its connection with drawing and design. He graduated in 1982 from the Chongqing Institute of Architecture and Engineering with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Architecture.Career
After graduation, Liu worked at the state-owned Chengdu Architectural Design and Research Institute. He later spent time in the Tibet and Xinjiang autonomous regions of China, exploring art and literature. He returned to architecture in 1993 after being inspired by an exhibition by former classmate Tang Hua.In 1999, he founded Jiakun Architects in Chengdu.