ON TOP OF THE WORLD

After a Spanish-loving British architect won the prestigious global Pritzker prize, the Olive Press takes a look at Sir David Chipperfield’s buildings in Spain

PERCHED on a Valencia shoreline, the horizontal planes of the striking America’s Cup building cut through the sky, like the white capped wakes of sailboats.

The emblematic building, Veles e Vents (or Sails and Winds), in Valencia port, is often singled out as Costa Blanca’s most captivating constructions. But how many people know it was designed by British architect Sir David Chipperfield, 69, whose lifetime achievements have just landed the Pritzker Prize, the industry’s highest honour.

The gong - dubbed the ‘Nobel of architecture’ - is awarded annually to the living architect who has best contributed to the built landscape with consistent talent, vision and commitment.

Past winners include Rafael Moneo, I.M Pei, Zaha Hadid and, last year, Francis Kere. “Chipperfield is assured without hubris, consistently avoiding trendiness to con-