Two female Irish architects, Yvonne Farrell and Shelly McNamara, received the 2020 Pritzker Prize, which is Architecture’s highest international honour.

Farrell and McNamara are the only members of Grafton Architects in Dublin. Both women also have a keen interest in education and lecture at various universities, which include Harvard and Yale.  According to the Pritzker jury, their oeuvre is in line with the main objectives of the prize, which is for a built body of work to reflect the art of architecture and to service the community at the same time. Their work demonstrates a sensitivity and deep understanding of people’s needs, history, culture as well as of the nature of the environment, while remaining fresh and modern. Their projects include housing projects, community and cultural centres as well as educational buildings.

Solstice Arts Centre. Image © Ros Kavanagh

University of Limerick Medical School. Image © Dennis Gilbert