Architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, a former FAUP lecturer, has been awarded the Praemium Imperiale 2025, one of the most prestigious prizes in Japan, awarded annually by the Japan Art Association, after architect Álvaro Siza received the same award in 1998.

The Japan Art Association justifies the award to Eduardo Souto de Moura for his “approach deeply rooted in the physical and cultural context of the places where he intervenes”, and also recognizes the way in which his work promotes continuous reflection on the challenges that contemporary architecture can and must face. Among the outstanding projects are the Pousada Mosteiro de Amares (1997), the Braga Municipal Stadium (2003) and the Paula Rego Museum (2009).

Created in 1988, the award aims to recognize outstanding figures worldwide in the fields of painting, sculpture, music, theatre/cinema and architecture, and is often compared to the Nobel Prize for the arts. This year's awards went to painter Peter Doig, artist Marina Abramovic, pianist András Schiff and choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker.

This is not the first time that Portuguese culture has been recognized by the Praemium Imperiale, awarded by the Japan Art Association. In 2024, pianist Maria João Pires was one of the laureates, joining architect Álvaro Siza, distinguished in 1998.

Established in 1988, the award aims to distinguish exceptional contributions in the areas of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Music and Theater/Cinema, celebrating outstanding artistic trajectories at an international level. According to the promoting organization, the award is intended for personalities who, regardless of national or ethnic boundaries, significantly represent contemporary culture and the arts.

The award ceremony for the Praemium Imperiale 2025 is scheduled for October 22 in Tokyo.

FAUP | Unidade de Comunicação e Imagem