Close

Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara win 2020 Pritzker Prize

The 47th and 48th Laureates of the Pritzker Architecture Prize are the first from Ireland.

The 2020 Pritzker Prize Laureates have been announced. Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara Farrell are the 47th and 48th recipients of architecture’s greatest honour. and the first to come from Ireland.

The announcement was made by Tom Pritzker, Chairman of The Hyatt Foundation, which sponsors the award.

“Architecture could be described as one of the most complex and important cultural activities on the planet,” said Farrell. “To be an architect is an enormous privilege, and to win this prize is a wonderful endorsement of our belief in architecture. Thank you for this great honour.”

Farrell and McNamara have both been architects and educators since the 1970s. The pair established Grafton Architects in 1978 in Dublin, where they continue to practice and reside. Since then, they have completed almost 40 projects in Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Peru. Their work includes academic, civic and cultural institutions, as well as housing developments.

Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara, photo courtesy of Alice Clancy

Urban Institute of Ireland, photo courtesy of Ros Kavanagh

Université Toulouse 1 Capitole, School of Economics, photo courtesy of Dennis Gilbert

Parnell Square Cultural Quarter, City Library, rendering courtesy of Grafton Architects

The Latest
Finasi at Downtown Design 2025

Finasi x ROAR presents – Made in UAE

For this year's Downtown Design, Finasi and Pallavi Dean will unveil a bold new installation that blends interiors, fashion, and local identity into a living design dialogue

A Lesson in Restraint

This Palm Jumeirah home proves that luxury can be achieved with intention, rather than scale

Vote for your favourite projects at the identity Design Awards 2025

You can now choose your favourite project from the identity Design Awards 2025 shortlist

identity Design Awards 2025 shortlist: Interior Design

The shortlist is revealed for the interior design categories

What to Expect at Downtown Design

The Middle East’s leading platform for high-quality contemporary design will showcase a curated mix of international and regional brands, alongside independent designers and studios

A New Chapter of Wellness

Studio Marco Piva has designed the Eden Spa at Excelsior Palace in Rapallo, where architecture, landscape and luxury converge

Otherworldly

The new Alémais Sydney headquarters reflects the brand’s flair for colourful prints and embellishments

Between Sky and Steel

We step into a sculptural apartment in Istanbul, Turkey

identity Design Awards 2025 shortlist: All Categories

Shortlist revealed for all the categories for identity Design Awards 2025

Brimming with Warmth

Atlas Concorde’s porcelain tiles enhance the contemporary design of this villa in Bodrum, Turkey

The Lighthouse

Carrie Das has completed a beachfront home that bridges Asia-inspired minimalism and touches of British heritage