Submissions opened on January 1 for the first ever Claude Parent Prize for Transgressive Architecture, eponymously named after the world-renowned French architect who died in 2016. Parent was the former business partner of Paul Virilio, a city planner–turned-famous philosopher. Parent’s former draftsman Jean Nouvel called Parent “a Piranesi of our times” for his outlandish designs and drawing style.
The jurors for the Claude Parent Prize include his former employee Jean Nouvel, architects Joseph Giovannini, Anupama Kundoo, Carme Pigem, Julie Cattant, and conceptual artist Loris Greaud. The new prize continues the late architect’s legacy by honoring contemporary radical designers.
Chloé Parent, renowned graphic designer and Claude’s daughter, say the Prize will reward “an architect or agency who has shown in their architectural practice and philosophy a desire to rethink architecture in a transgressive, critical or pioneering way.”
“We want to recognize their courage, the consistency of their risk-taking, the intelligence and relevance of their vision or their unique contribution to architecture. And this all over the world opening up a world of possibilities,” Chloé Parent continued. “Whether their reflection comes from the refusal of the status quo, from the desire to find new configurations for architecture and town planning or from that of responding to the current or future problems of the world, these architects will have brought something essential to their discipline, turning it upside down and creating alternative paths that hold promise for us all.”
The ethos driving the Prize is inspired by Claude Parent’s constant will to question architecture in its foundations, Chloé Parent continued. It will also allow students to attend demanding debates, better understand the work of Claude Parent, that of the winner, the jury members, and, above all, explore and propose new transgressions.
The prize is open to any architect or multidisciplinary team; the latter must have at least one architect to enter. The deadline to submit is March 15, and winners will be announced April 29–30.
Applicants may submit a minimum of three projects partnered with a manifesto. Winners will be awarded an original drawing by Claude Parent, estimated at 7,000 euros in value, at a public ceremony later this year.
