Pritzker Prize 2003 naar Deense architect Jorn Utzon

De 84-jarige in Spanje wonende, maar van origine Deense architect Jorn Utzon is de winnaar van de Pritzker Prize 2003. Utzon werd wereldberoemd door zijn prijswinnende ontwerp voor het Sydney Opera House [1957-1973]. Ook de Bagsvaerd kerk [1976] en zijn twee eigen woningen in Mallorca [1973 en 1994] werden internationaal bekend. Het architectenbureau van Utzon wordt nu geleid door zijn beide zonen. Een van de juryleden, Frank Gehry formuleerde de keuze voor Utzon als volgt:

'I believe that the choice of Jorn Utzon for this year's Pritzker Prize is a very important choice. It is important because Utzon made a building well ahead of its time, far ahead of available technology, and he persevered through extraordinary malicious publicity and negative criticism to build a building that changed the image of an entire country. It is the first time in our lifetime that an epic piece of architecture gained such universal presence. The trials and tribulations suffered by Utzon did not, however, prevent him from continuing to work and to produce superior, relevant, beautiful buildings. He has, by his own choice, remained out of the limelight and did not seek this prize. It sought him. His talents, his perseverance, and his honorable presence in the world of architecture merits his choice as this year's recipient of the Pritzker Prize.'

Utzon zal de prijs en het bijbehorende bedrag van $ 100.000,- in ontvangst nemen tijdens een ceremonie in Madrid op 20 mei 2003