Architecture as a search for belonging: The 2026 Pritzker Prize goes to Smiljan Radić Clarke

The life and work of Smiljan Radić Clarke are shaped by movement, openness, and the deliberate construction of identity. Born in Santiago to a Croatian‑British family, he developed early on an understanding of belonging as something that can be shaped. His path toward architecture emerged gradually: through drawings, first impulses during his youth, and studies in Chile marked by setbacks and formative experiences. Travel, history, as well as influences from art and philosophy broadened his perspective on architecture as a space for ideas and meanings.

Together with the sculptor Marcela Correa, Radić developed an intimate and experimental practice. His works oscillate between protection and openness, reflecting emotional and spatial experiences. Projects such as temporary installations or international pavilions demonstrate the sensitivity of his formal language. With the “Fundación de Arquitectura Frágil,” he also promotes collective thinking. Radić’s architecture remains personal, vulnerable, and at the same time powerful.