Ingels, who originally wanted to be a cartoon illustrator, is now revolutionising Danish architecture and taking the world by storm with his playful but practical approaches to design.

The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and The Chicago Athenaeum honour a living architect each year, ‘whose built work demonstrates vision and talent and a body of work that has significant contributions to art and humanity.’

Describing himself as ‘an alchemist’, by combining outwardly incompatible ideas to create architectural gold, Ingels has been praised for championing a bold and progressive atmosphere within the architecture world.

After announcing the winner, Museum president of the Chicago Athenaeum, Christian K Narkiewicz-Laine was quick to commend Ingels.

‘We are delighted to bring to Europe and to the world’s attention this remarkable young Danish architect,” he declared.

“It had taken a brave, young architect to step up to the plate to make us come to our contemporary senses to stop the process of boring the public and to embrace an architecture that allows you to say yes to all aspects of human life – no matter how contradicting.”

Ingels will formally be presented with his award at ‘The City and The World: Madrid Symposium’ at the beginning of November.

Earlier this year, Ingel’s architecture firm BIG put Denmark on show with the Denmark Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010.

BIG’s spiral design for the Astana National Library in Kazakhstan

BIG invents a hilly topography where is doesn’t usually exist with these ‘Mountain Dwellings’ in Copenhagen, which merges the need for both a parking and housing block by placing them on top of each other.

The VM apartments, also in Denmark, consist of two blocks, one in the shape of a V, the other an M with jagged-looking balconies sticking out like icicles.

BIG’s recently completed 8HOUSE on the edge of the Copenhagen Canal combines commercial and living spaces in one large bow-shaped complex.

Bjarke Ingels Group
big.dk