Quick Facts
Biography
Cristián Undurraga (born October 13, 1954 in Santiago, Chile) is a Chilean architect.
Graduated from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in 1977, with highest degree. The same year he obtains first prize as young architect at the Chilean architectural biennale. In 1978 founds Undurraga Deves Studio. Among his foundational works is the ‘House on a Hill’ a work that announces a new era in Chilean architecture. Its particular dialogue with geography and its balance between tradition and modernity lead it to be recognized with the Andrea Palladio International Prize, juried by James Stirling, Rafael Moneo, Manfredo Tafuri and Francesco Dal Co in 1991.
Recently, the civic center at Santiago has been reshaped with the completion of the Plaza de la Ciudadanía, allowing Cristian Undurraga to enhance the urban quality of the whole area. His works has received gold medal at the Miami biennale in 2004, and the International Award in the Biennale Iberoamericana de Quito, 2004. In 2005 was recognized in the Ten Winners Entries Honorable Mention for the New Multi-functional Administrative City of Korea International Competition.
Three monographic studies about his work and projects, published in Chile, Colombia, and South Korea, and many articles show Undurraga's commitment to excellence in architecture. Cristian Undurraga has played a significant role in Chilean and Latin American architecture not only as an architect but also as President of the XV Biennial of Architecture, as Professor in different periods at the Universidad Católica School of Architecture and as lecturer at national and foreign universities and educational centers.
In 2009 Undurraga was recognized as Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
Awards
- 1991 - Andrea Palladio International Price, Italy.
- 2004 - Panamerican Bienal of Architecture, Quito, Ecuador.
- 2005 - Gold Medal, Bienal of Miami, United States.
- 2009 - Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.