Liu Jiakun

A lecture by 2025 Pritzker Prize winner Liu Jiakun in partnership with RIBA and supported by FaulknerBrowns, Napper and Space Syntax.

We are delighted to welcome Chinese architect Liu Jiakun to Newcastle to deliver a lecture about his celebrated work. Born in 1956 in Chengdu, Liu studied at the Institute of Architecture and Engineering in Chongqing – now Chongqing University. After graduating in 1982, he worked for the state-owned Chengdu Architectural Design and Research Institute, before founding his practice Jiakun Architects in 1999.

West Village, photo courtesy of Qian Shen Photography

Liu's work, which spans more than thirty projects, is renowned for the way it is rooted in everyday cultures, materials, traditions and histories, yet speaks to architecture's transcendent qualities, fostering community and evoking calmness, solemnity and poetry.

Key projects include the Luyeyuan Stone Sculpture Art Museum (Chengdu, China, 2002), Rebirth Brick China, 2008), Hu Huishan Memorial (Chengdu, China, 2009), Shuijingfang Museum (Chengdu, China, 2013), Novartis (Shanghai) Block - C6 (Shanghai, China, 2014), West Village (Chengdu, China, 2015), Suzhou Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick (Suzhou, China, 2016), Songyang Cultural Neighborhood (Lishui, China, 2020), The Renovation of Tianbao Cave District of Erlang Town (Luzhou, China, 2021) and The Grand Canal Hangzhou Steelworks Park - Phase 1 (Hangzhou, China, 2024).

Museum of Clocks, Jianchuan Museum Cluster, photo courtesy of Bi Kejian

Alongside his architectural works, Liu is the author of a number of books, including I Built in West China? (Today Editorial Department, 2009), Now and Here (China Architecture & Building Press, 2002), and The Conception of Brightmoon (Times Literature and Art Publishing House, 2014).

Liu's work has featured in a number of exhibitions across the world and he has taught and lectured internationally. Alongside the Pritzker Prize, Liu has received numerous awards for his work. He lives and works in Chengdu, China.

Suzhou Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick, photo courtesy of Jiakun Architects

About the lecture

• The lecture will be consecutively translated. It will be followed by a short Q&A.
• Seating is unreserved and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.
• The lecture has been organised by the Farrell Centre and the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at Newcastle University in partnership with RIBA.

Lead image credit: Photo courtesy Jiakun Architects