Denise Scott Brown

Denise Scott Brown is one of the indispensable voices in 20th- century architecture. Her innovative thinking continues to be the starting point in many disciplinary discussions and academic research around the world. Born in Zambia, Scott Brown lived in Johannesburg until she moved to London. Together with her husband, Robert Venturi, they became one of paramount partnerships in post-modern architecture. 

Among other things, they co-wrote the seminal “Learning from Las Vegas” (1972), now translated into 18 languages including Portuguese. As a woman, Denise struggled to have her influence and work recognised alongside her partner, who was often credited as the sole responsible for their projects. She once wondered: “It’s interesting to consider what would have happened had Bob and I both been men.” She became a prominent advocate for the empowerment of women in architecture. 

Denise worked all over the world, from the United States of America – where she served as an advisor on the World Trade Center (1973) – to Morocco. Her vision has greatly influenced the evolution of architectural discourse and she has published several bestsellers. “Having Words” (2009), is an anthology of texts that explores her practice and thought over her fifty years. From 1985 to 2019 she received fifteen awards, including the Vilcek Prize, the Design Mind Award, the AIA Gold Medal or the Benjamin Franklin medal. As the jury of Triennale 2019 explained: “[Her wor] is still one of the most inspiring and significant sources for the establishment of critical architectural discourses and practices. The writings and thoughts of Denise Scott Brown unlocked a paradigm shift that broadened interdisciplinary and critical thinking through the design process. Scott Brown taught us freedom.” 

The Award

The prize was an artwork entitled “Ana” by Leonor Antunes, a Portuguese artist living and working in Berlin. Leonor’s body of work is a defiance of space and dimension with pieces that blend a deep knowledge of materials, sculpture, architecture and design. The artist’s international career has many highlights, such as significant exhibitions at the New Museum in New York; São Paulo Museum of Art, Brazil; Museo Tamayo, Mexico City; and the Whitechapel Gallery in London. In 2019 she represented Portugal in the Venice Art Biennale. In line with Denise’s thinking, Antunes also researches and boosts other women’s work, many of whom have not got the deserved recognition.

About

The Lisbon Triennale Millennium bcp Achievement Award honours a working studio or individual whose work and ideas have influenced and continue to have a profound impact on contemporary architectural practice and thinking. We believe in consistency and excellence, in relevant work and its distinction.

The scope of this award has included nominators and jury members from five continents, ensuring a plurality of voices that has given it solid credibility. Since 2007, recipients of this Award receive an original work of art created by a prestigious/celebrated Portuguese artist, contributing for the promotion of our artistic production.  

Jury

Amale Andraos
Claudia Taborda
Enrique Walker
Éric Lapierre
Kunlé Adeyemi
Momoyo Kaijima
Sharon Johnston

Nominators

Ana Luiza Nobre, Anastassia Smirnova, André Tavares, Ariadna Cantis, Arturo Scheidegger, Dalila Rodrigues, Deniz Ova, Emilia Giorgi, Ethel Baraona Pohl, Fabrizio Gallanti, Fernanda Fragateiro, Filipa Oliveira, Hanna Dencik Petersson, Hanna Harris, Herbert Wright, Ilka Ruby, Ivan Blasi, James Taylor-Foster, Jimenez Lai, João Belo Rodeia, Josephine Michau, Juan Coll-Barreu, Kaye Geipel, Kenneth Frampton, Leonor Cintra Gomes, Luís Santiago Baptista, Marianne Burki, Mimi Zeiger, Moisés Puente, Nathalie Weadick, Ning Ou, Pedro Baía, Ricardo Gomes, Ruzica Saric, Saimir Kristo, Taro Igarashi, Tatiana Bilbao, Tetsuo Kondo, Tim Abrahams, e Victoria Thornton