The Wolf Prize recognises \u2018exceptional individuals\u2019 in the arts and sciences with a medal of honour and $100,000 prize money.<\/p>\n
Announcing her decision on Instagram<\/a> after the latest recipients were named on 10 March, the 2023 RIBA Gold Medal winner stated that she could not accept the award or prize money, \u2018even from an organisation that is independent of the [Israeli] government\u2019.<\/p>\n She added: \u2018All violence is unacceptable to me on any side of a conflict and I\u2019ve spent much of my life helping refugees, albeit climate migrants, and Gaza is unfortunately now one of the worst situations in terms of displacement.\u2019<\/p>\n The Wolf Prize, now in its 47th year, is awarded annually to acknowledge \u2018outstanding achievements in either the arts or sciences\u2019.<\/p>\n The Wolf Foundation was founded in 1975 with an endowment from the family of German-born inventor and philanthropist Ricardo Wolf and his wife, Francisca, to celebrate \u2018outstanding contributions to humanity\u2019 through the arts or sciences.<\/p>\n The only other architect to receive a Wolf Prize this year was Chinese architect Tiantian Xu<\/a>, \u2018for her architecture that transformed villages throughout China economically, socially, and culturally\u2019. Awards were also given<\/a> for achievements in physics, medicine, agriculture and chemistry.<\/p>\n Nearly 400 previous recipients of the Wolf Prize have included British architect Ralph Erskine in 1984<\/a>, for his \u2018fundamental contribution to contemporary architecture\u2019, Guggenheim designer Frank Gehry in 1992<\/a>, for his \u2018architecture as art and sculpture\u2019, and David Chipperfield in 2010<\/a>, alongside Peter Eisenman, for his \u2018contemporary interpretation of Classical architecture\u2019.<\/p>\n Lari, Pakistan\u2019s first female architect, was featured in a 2023 AJ article<\/a> discussing her journey from Brutalist starchitect to trailblazing humanitarian activist.<\/p>\n The 84-year-old left mainstream architecture practice<\/a> in 2000 to dedicate herself to designing accessible, zero-carbon construction techniques for communities displaced by the impact of climate change.<\/p>\n Lari\u2019s 2023 RIBA Gold Medal recognised her \u2018robust, intelligent yet simple, architectural designs that allow those who are in distress to build for their own needs\u2019.<\/p>\n The AJ has contacted Yasmeen Lari and the Wolf Foundation for further comment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A post shared by Yasmeen Lari (@barefootsocialarchitecture)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n