Chinese architect Liu Jiakun wins the 2025 Pritzker Prize.
The 54th laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, Chengdu-born Liu Jiakun founded his eponymous practice in 1999. In a statement, the Pritzker jury honored Liu’s “reverence for culture, history, and nature, chronicling time and comforting users with familiarity through modern interpretations of classic Chinese architecture.” Throughout his tenure, Jiakun has contributed temples, museums, offices, and university buildings, most of which are in China; he also designed a beloved panda maternity ward at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, now frequented by millions of people each year. “I always aspire to be like water. To permeate through a place without carrying a fixed form of my own and to seep into the local environment and the site itself,” he shared in an official statement. “Over time, the water gradually solidifies, transforming into architecture, and perhaps even into the highest form of human spiritual creation. Yet, it still retains all the qualities of that place, both good and bad.”
Uber rolls out an all-electric fleet of autonomous Waymo vehicles to transport users in Austin.
Just ahead of SXSW, the latest iteration of Uber’s Waymo partnership has rolled out in Austin, where riders can hail self-driving Jaguar I-PACE vehicles. Customers using UberX, Uber Green, or Uber Comfort can opt for a chance to ride in an autonomous vehicle, with the option to switch to a human-driven car if preferred.
The New Museum will reopen with an OMA-designed zero-waste restaurant.
The New Museum is launching a full-service restaurant as part of its expansion, collaborating with the Oberon Group and chef Julia Sherman. Designed by OMA, the zero-waste eatery will feature locally sourced produce and seafood, an artful menu, and an atmosphere inspired by downtown New York’s community gardens. The space will also showcase artist Ian Cheng’s installation and custom furnishings by Minjae Kim, reinforcing its role as a vibrant gathering spot for museum visitors and creatives.
The National Gallery of Canada has issued an open call for its year-long arts research fellowship.
The National Gallery of Canada is accepting applications for the 2025 General Idea Fellowship, a $15,000 award supporting research in contemporary art. Open to scholars, curators, and artists worldwide, the fellowship requires on-site study of the NGC’s collections, including the Art Metropole and General Idea archives. The selected fellow, announced in the spring, will go on to present their findings at the NGC Library and Archives at the end of the year-long program.
Cult-favorite Parisian concept shop Merci has opened its second location in the 1st Arrondissement.
Merci has opened a second Paris location on Rue de Richelieu, transforming a former post office into a second outpost of the conceptual retail space, which has become famous for the way it blends art, fashion, and home goods. In an interview, CEO Arthur Gerbi embraced a “post-luxury” philosophy, emphasizing curation over hype, offering eclectic products that prioritize craftsmanship and personal joy over status.
Today’s attractive distractions:
In Brazil, Siqueira + Azul expands an Oscar Niemeyer residence.
Wouldn’t it be nice if all it took to better society was a Finnish sauna?
The luxury market slowdown? Prada Group doesn’t know her.
In the Pacific Northwest, an object lesson in living with “net zero” carbon impact.
