Lacaton & Vassal to Receive 2027 Le Prix Charlotte Perriand for Sustainable Architecture
French architectural studio Lacaton & Vassal Architectes has been selected as the winner of the 2027 Le Prix Charlotte Perriand, Dezeen reports. The firm, led by Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, was chosen by the Créateurs Design Association for its commitment to social housing and the preservation of existing structures.
Context from Industry Pulse
The selection of Lacaton & Vassal for the 2027 Le Prix Charlotte Perriand underscores a continuing industry shift toward adaptive reuse and social responsibility. By honoring a studio that emphasizes the transformation of existing structures—such as their work on the Cité du Grand Parc and the Palais de Tokyo—the Créateurs Design Association aligns with a broader architectural movement focused on heritage preservation and environmental sustainability. This recognition follows previous honors for the firm, including the Pritzker Prize and the Mies van der Rohe Award, cementing their influence on modern social housing and the ethical management of architectural resources in urban environments.
The upcoming award ceremony is scheduled for early 2027 at the Shangri-La Paris. According to Dezeen, the event will also feature Kengo Kuma, who is set to receive the Andrée Putman Lifetime Achievement Award. The Créateurs Design Association established this specific prize in partnership with the family of Charlotte Perriand to celebrate professionals who advance the fields of design and architecture through significant innovation.
Founded in 1989, the studio has built a reputation for prioritizing inhabitant well-being and resource conservation. Notable projects highlighted by Dezeen include the expansion of Latapie House using polycarbonate panels and the conversion of a shipbuilding workshop into a contemporary art gallery in Dunkirk. The firm is widely recognized for its philosophy of transforming standing buildings rather than opting for demolition.
Lacaton & Vassal has previously received several of the industry highest honors. As Dezeen notes, the practice won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2021 and the Soane Medal in 2023. Their collaborative work on the Cité du Grand Parc housing project in Bordeaux earned the European Union Mies van der Rohe Award in 2019, while Anne Lacaton was individually recognized with the 2025 Jane Drew Prize.
Beyond residential projects, the firm has handled high-profile cultural and educational commissions. These include the Nantes School of Architecture and the transformation of the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. Their approach often involves collaborating with other architects, such as Frédéric Druot, to renovate mid-century tower blocks like the Tour Bois-le-Prêtre to improve modern living conditions without erasing historical heritage.
The Industry Pulse Bottom Line
Lacaton & Vassal’s latest accolade reinforces the commercial and critical value of restorative architecture, proving that preserving structural heritage and improving social living conditions are central to contemporary design excellence.