The Soane Medal was established in 2017 to continue the efforts of Sir John Soane in promoting the crucial role of architecture in society. The medal recognizes architects, educators, and critics who have greatly contributed to developing better public understanding of architecture through their work in practice, history, or theory.
Past laureates include Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, Peter Barber, and Denise Scott Brown. It is awarded annually by an eminent jury chaired by the architect Sir David Chipperfield, a former trustee of Sir John Soane’s Museum.
Hanif Kara: 2024 Soane Medallist
The 2024 winner of the Soane Medal is structural engineer Hanif Kara. His many iconic projects include Peckham Library and Bloomberg’s European headquarters; four times Kara has played a crucial role in building Stirling Prize-winning buildings. He will give the Soane Medal Lecture at the Royal Academy of Arts on November 26, reflecting upon his career and his take on the climate crisis: “As a scientist, I like to think that hope can turn into possibilities.”
Kara’s Contributions to Engineering and Sustainability
Since 1996 Kara has done a lot of work with internationally renowned architects including Zaha Hadid and Norman Foster. In his projects, new approaches to building techniques are advanced by emphasizing resources conservation and reutilization of materials. Philosophy: “Questioning the orthodoxy of engineering conventions opens up other techniques that could be done to reduce the impact of building. In the complex world we live in today, it is impossible to solve the problems facing us without collaboration and thinking from different disciplines.” Kara reflected on his practice.
Aside from his engineering practice, Kara is a highly regarded educator and mentor for aspiring architects and engineers through different academic institutions such as Harvard and the Royal College of Art. His commitment is in tandem with Sir John Soane’s dedication to education during his time at the Royal Academy of Arts, where Soane himself was a tutor.
Will Gompertz, Deborah Loeb Brice Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum, said: “Hanif Kara is the engineer to whom Sir John Soane would have turned to realise his most ambitious, exciting designs. They might be divided by two centuries, but they are united in the belief that innovative, sympathetic, beautiful architecture can make a lasting and positive impact on the world.”
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