Architect Anne Lacaton has been awarded the esteemed 2025 Jane Drew Prize, a prestigious honor that recognizes her significant contributions to advancing women in architecture. Lacaton, co-founder of Lacaton & Vassal studio, is celebrated for her innovative and socially conscious design philosophy, which emphasizes adaptive reuse and sustainable practices in architecture.
The Jane Drew Prize, named after the pioneering modernist architect Jane Drew, is part of the W Awards (previously the Women in Architecture Awards) co-organized by The Architectural Review and Architects’ Journal. This award acknowledges individuals who have raised the profile of women in architecture.
Lacaton’s work has been instrumental in redefining responsible building practices in the 21st century. Her studio’s notable projects include the renovation of the Palais de Tokyo museum in Paris and the transformation of a 1960s social housing block in Bordeaux, which have set new standards for sustainability and social engagement in architecture. Lacaton & Vassal’s approach often involves extending existing structures with greenhouse-like additions, as seen in the Latapie House and the Tour Bois-le-Prêtre skyscraper, enhancing both functionality and environmental efficiency.
This recognition is the latest in a series of accolades for Lacaton, who, along with Jean-Philippe Vassal, was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2021 for their commitment to innovative renovation practices. Her dedication to preserving existing structures and adapting them to modern needs resonates with her mantra, “Demolition is madness,” which has inspired a new generation of architects to rethink their approach to building and renovation.
In addition to Lacaton’s award, the 2025 Ada Louise Huxtable Prize for Contribution to Architecture was presented to Palestinian architect and writer Suad Amiry, recognizing her impactful work in preserving historical buildings in Palestine through her organization Riwaq.
Previous winners for Jane Drew Award include: Iwona Buczkowska (2024), Kazuyo Sejima (2023), Farshid Moussavi (2022), Kate Macintosh (2021), Yasmeen Lari (2020), Elizabeth Diller (2019), Amanda Levete (2018), Denise Scott Brown (2017), Odile Decq (2016), Grafton Architects founders Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara (2015), Zaha Hadid (2014), Kathryn Findlay of Ushida Findlay (2013) and Eva Jiřičná (2012).
