The jury of the award, awarded by the International Union of Architects (UIA) every three years, noted the contribution of Gonzalez de Leon [Teodoro Gonzalez de Leon] to architecture, his works reflecting the modern era, its social reality, culture and traditions, his work, which develops, enriches, reinterprets the legacy of the Modern movement.
The buildings of Gonzalez de Leon are monumental, they are also distinguished by the thoughtful use of materials and textures, as well as light, which allows them to harmoniously fit into both the urban landscape and the natural environment.
Teodoro Gonzalez de Leon was born in 1926 in Mexico City, graduated from the National School of Architecture in 1947, and then went to France, where he worked for several years in the workshop of Le Corbusier. Among its buildings you can find both public buildings and residential buildings, as well as projects for public spaces and parks. Among his most famous works are the buildings of the Mexican embassies in Brasilia and Berlin, the archaeological museum at the Tahín site in Veracruz and the High School of Music in Mexico City.
The award ceremony will take place on July 2, 2008 at the XXIII UIA Congress in Turin.
It was also announced that the French architect Françoise-Hélène Jourda has been awarded the 2008 Auguste Perret Prize for the use of innovative technologies in architectural design by the International Union of Architects. The jury noted the maturity and strength of her work, which is a "powerful architectural synthesis of space and building structures." Zhurda is one of the world leaders in the field of "green architecture", actively developing technological methods that allow creating resource-saving and environmentally friendly buildings. Among her projects are the Lyon School of Architecture in Voz-en-Vlan, the Palais de Justice in Melan, the National Rugby Center in Marcoussy.
