He College of Architects of Mexico City (CAM) and the Society of Mexican Architects (SAM) recognized Enrique Norten with the Luis Barragán Award 2024 for his contributions to national and international architecture and also because he has consolidated an exceptional career with a own language.
Visibly moved, the prestigious Mexican architect told MILENIO: “All the recognitions are very important, on the one hand I am very honored; On the other hand, as always I take it as a great responsibility because obviously each of these moments gives us a certain visibility and truly forces us to try to be better”.
In the context of the 11th edition of CAM SAM international congress (whose motto is Architecture, territory and infrastructure: forging urban identity), the winner highlighted that this new recognition is significant for him because it is given to him by his colleagues.
“It is very important when your peers are the ones who recognize you, they are the people who are doing the same as you, they know the difficulties and the benefits of this profession. That they consider me worthy of this award is a tremendous compliment to me because it is the most important given by the College of Architects, the guild to which I belong.”
Norten was born in Mexico City in 1954, graduated in Architecture from the Universidad Iberoamericana and obtained a master’s degree in Architecture from the Cornell University. In 1986 he founded TEN Arquitectos, a studio that has carried out emblematic projects both in Mexico and internationally, initiating a commitment to the creation and investigation of urban planning, architecture and design.
Live better
At the event he said that for him architecture is “a way of life, a way of power.” serve my communityfrom my smallest community to the entire world. It is also a huge responsibility and an opportunity to give our beings a better quality of life.”
This conception has to do with the possibility of making best places where people develop their activities in cities with better conditions and in harmony with the environment. environment.
“In the end, it is being able to establish new structures and certain systems that allow communities to live better.”
Norten received a diploma and a medal with the phrase “Luis Barragán 2024 ‘Projects’ Award, to the master in architecture Enrique Norten Rosenfeld”.
- among architects
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- In addition to Enrique Norten, other award-winning architects were Miguel Adriá, with the Mario Pani recognition, in diffusion; Mario de Jesús Carmona with the José Villagrán award, in teaching practice; Eduardo Rincón Gallardo, with the Juan O’Gorman award. The Carlos Lazo recognition went to Miriam Urzúa and the Ruth Rivera award went to Joaquín Álvarez.
In his speech he expressed his gratitude and stressed that it was an honor to receive this distinction: “First of all, to be able pay my name or pair it with that of the great Mexican architect Luis Barragán, probably the most recognized architect that our country has produced. Secondly because I am receiving it from my peers and thirdly because I receive it from the College of Architects”.
From your perspective, what does the country require at this time?
we are living a different country As we have been told many times, without a doubt that makes us think in a different way about the responsibilities we have. If these last six years of administration have left us anything, it is to understand that we have a enormous commitment to certain sectors of society that we had all, in some way, neglected.
“I believe that the great commitment is that reconciliation with the totality of mexicansbecause we are all Mexicans. Although our former president does not see it that way, we are all the people, we must allow ourselves reconciliation in harmony.
What proposal would you give for Mexico City with your new government?
There is a lot to do in this city. I think the administration of this city knows it and understands it. I think it is a virtue that our chairwoman has been head of governmentso he knows the city perfectly well; one of our most important secretaries was head of Government.
“This gives us many opportunities to understand the new lines of organization for the city, the forms of mobility and of weaving the city in another way, obviously that of being able to have greater opportunities for everyone living in this great city.”
In addition to his work as an architect, Norten has been a influential educatorhas taught classes at prestigious institutions such as Harvard and Yale, contributing to training new generations of architects.
His work has been fundamental in the architectural innovationstanding out for its pioneering use of glass and for integrating public spaces into its designs.
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