In its 30th Year, the Richard Morris Hunt Prize Redoubles its Impact
January 01, 2020
PARIS- At a moment of global environmental concern, one organization is supporting greater scholarship in conserving the built environment — the Richard Morris Hunt Prize. Founded in 1990, the Richard Morris Hunt Prize awards two prizes each year to two laureates, a Fellow and a Scholar, practicing architects specializing in historic preservation. Grants are alternatively given to French and American recipients to support in-depth research travel in the two countries. During the Richard Morris Hunt Jury on December 6th, 2019, the remarkable quality of all four finalists motivated the decision to give not only the annual RMHP Fellow and Scholar awards, but also two special 30th Anniversary Grants. Their subjects were thoroughly relevant and contemporary.
The 2020 RMHP Fellow, Simon Petot-Bottin, presented a subject entitled “National Parks and Their Amenities: The Paradox of Architecture Within Parks.” Petot-Bottin will receive a grant of $20,000 to support six months of research in the United States. Barbara Lambec, 2020 RMHP Scholar, presented a subject entitled “Waste or Opportunity: Reuse as a Vector for Renewing the Economics of Materials.” Her five-week research trip to the United States will be supported by a $5,000 grant. Runners-up Bérénice Gaussuin and Pierre Gommier will each benefit from a $2,500 award for travel and research.
During their travel and study, Fellows, Scholars, and grant recipients will benefit from the support of the Richard Morris Hunt Prize, the American Institute of Architects, (AIA), and the Architects Foundation (AF) managing teams. Scholars typically engage with the foremost experts in their chosen fields, exploring unique and exemplary sites while confronting new approaches and techniques. Finally, they become part of a rich network comprised by the thirty-seven RMHP Laureates.
