Mexican architect Frida Escobedo wins the 2023 Le Prix Charlotte Perriand Award

Lead architect and founder of the eponymous studio from Mexico, Frida Escobedo has been named the recipient of the 2023 Les Prix Charlotte Perriand Award. Her work has garnered international accolades for its visionary approach—seamlessly blending function and form—in creating spaces that are not only aesthetically appealing but are responsive to their users. The award was previously conferred upon Ghanian-British architect Sir David Adjaye, and American architect and educator Jeanne Gang.

Instituted as part of the larger family of The Créateurs Design Awards, the architecture award honours the legacy of celebrated French designer, Charlotte Perriand, who was integral to shaping the landscape of modern architecture in the mid-20^th century. This is also one of the only instances where the Perriand family has permitted the use of the designer’s name beyond her immediate body of work.

On her being one of the few women working in a male-dominated field during the 50s, Escobedo says, “Charlotte Perriand created her own path: one that was fearlessly innovative yet deeply rooted in the belief that all beings have the right to beauty, comfort, and functionality. She shaped the world through her vast production of work while building a constellation of friends and colleagues, teaching us that collaboration is one of the most fundamental practices in the architectural discipline.”

The Mexican architect is deeply concerned with cultivating an environmental consciousness and societal well-being in her own work. Through design, she seeks to create a harmonious balance between nature and the built environment. This was reflected in her design for the 2018 Serpentine Pavilion, a shifting, ever-changing form inspired by the Mexican "celosia" breeze-block wall. It also featured an enclosed courtyard, typical of Mexican architecture. Within the courtyard, a triangular pool reflected the walls made out of cement tiles and the sky, creating a surreal effect. The interplay of light, shadow, and glimpses of the surrounding landscape ensured that visitors could enjoy a unique experience on each visit. Escobedo was one of the youngest architects to have been commissioned for the temporary installation.

In a free-wheeling conversation platformed on STIR, Escobedo spoke to Paris-based artist Arik Levy where the two talked about everything—from their work to fond experiences—that have shaped them. Escobedo shared her views on architecture, revealing how she thinks of it as “constantly flowing”. She said, “It’s almost like a mineral: this beautiful geomorphic form that has lots of layers to it, and it’s almost telling a story of its creation.” Hence, her creative process has always been iterative—almost wave-like. Her major oeuvre is centered on restoring urban spaces: from housing to community centres, where her works pivot on social context, rather than a historical one. She has also been passionate about exploring what a new modernism could look like for her homeland, reflected particularly in her work on social housing. It was this spirit that the award recognised her for.

The 42-year-old architect studied architecture at the Universidad Iberoamericana and went on to graduate from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design with a Masters in Art, Design and the Public Domain. She has also taught at Columbia, Harvard, and the Architectural Association in London. Most recently, she was commissioned to design a wing for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City—the first woman and the youngest one to design a building for the institution.

Speaking about the win, Escobedo said, “To find myself acknowledged by this remarkable jury is an honour that resonates deeply within me. It serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of Charlotte Perriand, a legacy I am humbled and overjoyed to perpetuate.” She will be awarded during the upcoming Créateurs Design Awards ceremony, scheduled to take place in Paris on January 20, 2024.