Spanish architects win Pritzker Prize, the 'Nobel for building designers'

Normally, the Pritzker Prize is awarded to a sole architect or a studio, but this time Carme Pigem, 54, Rafael Aranda, 55 and Ramón Vilalta, 56 (pictured, left to right) have each been given a separate Pritzker Prize instead of just one being granted for their studio, RCR.

The Hyatt Foundation in Chicago, USA, chaired by Tom Pritzker, gives the 'architects' Nobel' to those who 'show commitment to their place of residence' – and Carme, Rafael and Ramón certainly fit this description as a huge amount of their work has been in the town of Olot (Girona province) where they hail from.

These include a nursery school, a library and the Les Cols Restaurant; elsewhere in their province, the Bell-Lloc wine merchant's in Palamós, and in their region, the Sant Antoni-Joan Oliver Library in Barcelona.

Some of their star projects have been built over the border in France, including the La Cuisine Centre des Arts in Nègrepelisse and the Musée Soulages in Rodez.

They have worked as a threesome since they graduated from the High Technical College of Architecture in Vallés, in 1987, setting up their studio the following year.

Only once before has the Pritzker Prize gone to a Spaniard, which was in 1996 when it was awarded to Rafael Moneo.

British architect Glenn Murcutt, who won it in 2002, describes RCR Studio's skilful combination of traditional décor and structure with highly-practical and spacious rooms and buildings as 'exciting, emotional and oozing experience'.

“They've shown that the unity of materials can provide an incredible strength and great simplicity to a structure,” Murcutt says.

The jury praised the team's 'juxtaposition of past and present' in many of their buildings - including their own studio – where restored edifices nevertheless retain their original industrial architectural features, and a fusion of tradition and innovation somehow leads to a very practical end result.

Carme Pigem says the three are 'very excited' to have gained recognition at such a high level.

Second photograph shows the Petit Comte Kindergarten in Besalú (Girona), one of the team's award-winning works