At a celebration at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) London headquarters, SANAA, the collaborative practice of Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, were honoured as the winners of the 2025 Royal Gold Medal.
RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki, presented the ceremonial medal to Sejima and Nishizawa ahead of His Majesty, King Charles III officially presenting them with the medal at a private ceremony later this year.
For nearly three decades, SANAA’s work has pioneered sustainable, user-centred design and was praised by the 2025 RIBA Honours Committee for shaping “a universal language of architecture that resonates with people everywhere.”
Balancing boldness with sensitivity to the local environment, their works “demonstrate that architecture can be both functional and profoundly elegant, offering a sense of calm amidst an increasingly complex and chaotic world.”
SANAA are the 46th recipient of the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture, which has been awarded since 1848.
Acknowledging the achievement, RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki, said: “Congratulations to SANAA, who have exemplified remarkable clarity and consistency over the decades. It was an honour to celebrate at our headquarters not only their achievements, but their shared vision - one where architecture prioritises the human experience and human interaction, alongside form and function. Their work has become a standard for creating meaningful, culturally insightful designs and will continue to raise the bar for future generations.”
On receiving the Medal, SANAA said: “We are delighted to receive the Royal Gold Medal and honoured to be invited to receive the medal from His Majesty, King Charles III.
“As architects, we find joy in many forms. It’s not about the scale or level of the project, sometimes those moments come from working on grand buildings, other times from small, intimate ones. What matters most to us is creating architecture that brings us joy.”
