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Pritzker Prize goes to Japanese architect who values community in spaces both public and private

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Pritzker Prize goes to Japanese architect who values community in spaces both public and private

The Pritzker Architecture Prize has been awarded to Japan’s Riken Yamamoto, who earns the field’s highest honor for what organizers called a long career focused on “multiplying opportunities for people to meet spontaneously, through precise, rational design strategies.”

Yamamoto, 78, has spent a five-decade career designing both private and public buildings — from residences to museums to schools, from a bustling airport center to a glass-walled fire station — and prizing a spirit of community in all spaces.

“By the strong, consistent quality of his buildings, he aims to dignify, enhance and enrich the lives of individuals — from children to elders — and their social connections,” the jury said, in part, in a citation released Tuesday. “For him, a building has a public function even when it is private.”

In an interview from Yokohama, where he is based, Yamamoto said he was both proud and “amazed” to win the prize, seen as the Nobel of architecture, at this point in his career.

“Soon I will be 79 years old,” he said. “This prize is a big moment for me. In the near future I think many people will listen to me very carefully. Maybe I can say my opinion more easily than before.”

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The architect explained that his craft is not simply to design buildings, but to design in the context of their surroundings, and hopefully to impact the surroundings as well.

A key example: Yamamoto’s virtually transparent Hiroshima Nishi Fire Station, designed in 2000, with a facade, interior walls and floors made of glass. The building invites the public to experience the daily activities of firefighters, something it rarely sees. The result encourages passersby “to view and engage with those who are protecting the community, resulting in a reciprocal commitment between the civil servants and the citizens they serve,” organizers said.

Normally, Yamamoto said, a fire station would be built from concrete. He had a different perspective, which he submitted in a competition with other architects.

“I proposed a very radical idea,” Yamamoto said. “The idea was that the fire house should be the center of the community. Not only their fire work but their daily life should be the center, because they are living at the place, for 24 hours they have activities.” He described firefighters training with ropes and ladders in a central atrium visible from outside.

“Many young children come to see,” he said. “It’s very interesting for them.”

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A more recent design with a similar concept is The Circle at Zurich’s airport, designed in 2020, a major commercial center for shops, restaurants, hotels and a convention hall. Yamamoto said he aimed to create an open, 24-hour hour environment, a space to welcome city residents as well travelers.

“I proposed a very open system,” he said, “no gate, no entrance, no door.” He said snow or rain sometimes enters the space via a partially open roof.

Another noted design is the Hotakubo housing project in Kumamoto, Japan, Yamamoto’s first social housing project, made up of 110 homes in 16 “clusters.”

“How do you make a community out of 110 family houses?” he mused in an interview about the 1991 design. “It is very difficult.” Most apartments, he noted, are boxes inside of a bigger box. “It’s very easy to create privacy, but very difficult to make a community because each house is independent,” he said.

The architect’s solution: a tree-lined plaza at the center that can only be entered via a residence. In this way, he explained, he was able to combine the private with the public, giving individual families their privacy while promoting connections between them. Terraces also overlook the common space.

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Yamamoto was born in China in 1945 and raised in Japan from early childhood. He said he first grew attracted to architecture while still in high school. He received a master’s degree in architecture from Tokyo University in 1971, and founded his own practice two years later.

Many of his ideas on community were inspired by three extensive trips he took early in his career — not to famous monuments but instead to villages around the world, he said, in Europe, North Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. In such villages, he examined the relationship of the family unit to the broader community and explored the idea of a “threshold” between public and private space. He also said he was inspired by the writings of philosopher Hannah Arendt.

A book by Yamamoto, “The Space of Power, The Power of Space,” is due to be published next month, an English translation of his 2015 work.

Yamamoto, who lives and works in Yokohama and has held numerous teaching positions, is the 53rd laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, established in 1979 by the late entrepreneur Jay A. Pritzker and his wife, Cindy. Winners receive a $100,000 grant and a bronze medallion.

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Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro Enjoy Wimbledon, ‘The Fantastic Four’ Lands in Paris and More Celeb Photos: July 2025

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Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro Enjoy Wimbledon, ‘The Fantastic Four’ Lands in Paris and More Celeb Photos: July 2025

July kicked off with “Jurassic World Rebirth” stars Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Rupert Friend touching down in Seoul, Korea, to meet the press and walk the red carpet.

In the U.S., PaleyLive celebrated the 20th anniversary of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” at the DGA in West Hollywood.

As the July 4th weekend approached, “Superman” stars David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult landed in London for a fan event at Cineworld Leicester Square. At the same time, Hollywood was well represented at Wimbledon with Andrew Garfield, Monica Barbaro, Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and Lily Collins among those taking in some tennis.

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” began in Paris with Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby and Ebon Moss-Bachrach attending a special event at Espace Niemeyer.

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On the music front, that was Addison Rae performing with Lana Del Ray at Wembley Stadium on July 3 in London. SWV — Leanne “Lelee” Lyons, Cheryl “Coko” Gamble and Tamara “Taj” George — stunned at the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans.

Oasis electrified Cardiff, Wales, with their first performance in 16 years.

And that was just the first week of July. Make sure to keep checking back all month long for more of the best celeb photos of July 2025.

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US champions Lebanon's response to Hezbollah disarmament, hints at Abraham Accords opportunity

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US champions Lebanon's response to Hezbollah disarmament, hints at Abraham Accords opportunity

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The U.S. envoy to Lebanon championed a response issued by Beirut on Monday to a proposal by Washington that detailed the complete disarmament of the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from its southern region. 

Envoy Thomas Barrack told reporters he was “unbelievably satisfied” with Beirut’s timely response to a June 19 proposal that called for the disarmament of Hezbollah within a four-month timeframe. 

“What the government gave us was something spectacular in a very short period of time,” Barrack said following a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who took the top job in January. “I’m unbelievably satisfied with the response.”

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, right, meets with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, in Baabda, east of Beirut, Monday, July 7, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)

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TRUMP PRESSURES ISRAEL TO END GAZA CONFLICT AS HE EYES ABRAHAM ACCORDS EXPANSION

The news comes as negotiators are also working to end Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip after Jerusalem saw itself facing four fronts just last fall with a war on its southern border against Hamas, back-and-forth missile strikes with Iran as well as with the Houthis in Yemen, and a campaign that unfolded in Lebanon.

A truce was struck in Lebanon following a sophisticated pager bombing that targeted hundreds of Hezbollah members across the country in September. 

Hezbollah largely retreated from Lebanon’s southern region and has reportedly relinquished some arms.

But reporting by Reuters on Monday also suggested that Hezbollah may be unwilling to relinquish all its arms and the details of the U.S.-Lebanon agreement that would see the disarmament of the terrorist network remain unknown.

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Israeli troops have remained in parts of southern Lebanon to counter what it argues is a continued threat posed by the terrorist network to Israeli communities that live on the northern border, and skirmishes have continued. 

Barrack, who also serves as U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, said he believes that, ultimately, Lebanon and Israel share the same goal – peace.

IDF soldier poses next to weapons cache

An IDF soldier near anti-tank missiles that belong to the terror group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. (IDF)

AFTER SETBACK TO IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM, TRUMP EXPECTED TO LEVERAGE MILITARY SUPPORT IN NETANYAHU MEETING

“The Israelis do not want war with Lebanon,” he said. “Both countries are trying to give the same thing – the notion of a stand-down agreement, of the cessation of hostilities, and a road to peace.”

Barrack also suggested that the Trump administration may look to add Lebanon to the list of nations that have normalized ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords – a chief policy of Trump’s during his first administration and one which he has once again made a top priority. 

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Fox News Digital could not confirm whether Beirut is yet interested in that level of diplomacy with its southern neighbor.

But Barrack also suggested that Syria has already begun “dialogue” with Israel. 

“The dialogue has started between Syria and Israel, just as the dialogue needs to be reinvented by Lebanon,” he said. “If you don’t want change, it’s no problem. The rest of the region is moving at Mach speed and you will be left behind.”

Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon.

Mourners react during the funeral of Hezbollah member Hassan Ghassan Hijazi, who was killed by an Israeli strike in Tayr Debba, in southern Lebanon, Jan. 11, 2025. (Courtney Bonneau/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

The comments come one week after Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar said Jerusalem “is interested in expanding the Abraham Accords circle of peace and normalization.

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“We have an interest in adding countries, such as Syria and Lebanon, our neighbors, to the circle of peace and normalization – while safeguarding Israel’s essential and security interests,” he added, though much of the normalization efforts would depend on Israel ending its war in the Gaza Strip. 

Reuters contributed to this report. 

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Public transport disrupted in Hungary as storms batter eastern Europe

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Public transport disrupted in Hungary as storms batter eastern Europe
By&nbspGavin Blackburn&nbspwith&nbspAP

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Severe thunderstorms hit Hungary on Monday forcing the closure of the main international airport in the capital Budapest after debris had been blown across the runways.

The departures hall in Terminal 2A was partially flooded and the building was evacuated but no injuries were reported, the airport said in a statement.

“All passenger check-in is taking place at Terminal 2B. The storm has also affected the surrounding roads, please be advised of any traffic changes before departure,” airport authorities said, adding that damage assessment is underway.

According to Flightradar, several flights scheduled to arrive in Budapest had to be diverted and land elsewhere.

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A Ryanair flight from Prague was diverted to Bratislava and the airport said several aircraft have been circling the airport waiting for a landing slot. They warned that flight cancellations cannot be ruled out.

The storm also affected the national railway network with MÁVINFORM reporting longer journey times on the North Balaton line due to overhead line faults and replacement bus services in place between Balatonfüred and Szabadbattyán.

In a statement, MÁVINFORM said that gale-force winds of 150-170 km/h on the northern shore of Lake Balaton had blown down the overhead line, while on the southern shore trees had fallen onto the track, damaging power lines.

They added that the National Emergency Centre had immediately deployed around 50 to 60 buses to ensure passengers could get to their destinations and that experts were working to repair the faults.

Serbia

The country’s meteorological office, the Republic Hydrometeorological Institute of Serbia (RHMZ) issued a severe weather warning on Monday for Belgrade, mountainous areas in the southeast and Vojvodina.

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Rain and thunderstorms were forecast, and Bačka and central and northern Banat saw intense storms with hail and strong winds.

Shortly after 2 pm, gale force winds and heavy rain hit Zrenjanin, a correspondent for state television RTS said.

The wind brought down branches from trees and caused minor flooding on some roads. Manholes and drains were clogged with leaves that had been blown by the wind.

At around 2:15 pm, Subotica was hit by a thunderstorm.

RHMZ said that sunny, warm weather is expected to return to most parts of the country by the end of the day, with thunderstorms most likely to continue in the north and west.

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Croatia

A strong storm lashed the Croatian coast and moved inland, reaching the country’s east.

The State Hydrometeorological Institute (DHMZ) issued its highest red warning level for the Osijek region, which indicates extremely dangerous weather.

A message has also been sent to residents in the area, warning of stormy and hurricane-force winds.

The Vukovar-Srijem Police Department received 30 reports of damage caused by the storm but no injuries.

While the national electric grid warned of the possibility of reduced voltage in some parts of Županja.

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Slovenia

And rainfall that hit Slovenia overnight has eased but is expected to intensify again by the evening.

The national meteorological service Arso issued an orange warning for the entire country for Monday due to possible heavy rains with hail, gusts of wind and lightning.

A new, more pronounced wave of precipitation is expected to hit the country on Tuesday night, when local storms are again possible.

The heaviest rainfall is expected to be in the west and northern areas.

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