Frei Otto — An Unprecedented Award for an Unprecedented Designer

One day after his death, German architect and engineer Frei Otto has been named the 40th Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate. The unexpected announcement comes two weeks early, following the designer's death on Sunday, marking the first time the prestigious prize has been awarded posthumously. Best known for the 1972 Munich Olympic Stadium, the 89 year old Otto was told of the jury's decision shortly before his death, at which time he reportedly responded, "I have never done anything to gain this prize. My architectural drive was to design new types of buildings to help poor people especially following natural disasters and catastrophes… You have here a happy man."