"I can assure you that the fact that Sejima is a woman had no influence whatsoever on her invitation: contrary to what is established by the politically correct, we selected her solely for her architectural quality. That she came from Japan to be a juror for the Década was an honour that we truly appreciated.

◻️ She appeared small, elegantly dressed in black (she is a fan of Comme des Garçons), with a gift (as every good Japanese does): a beautiful little porcelain bowl with delicate flower reliefs. When the dean of the Col·legi asked her to sign the guestbook (as he had done with all the previous jurors), she drew a beautiful little sketch of Japanese characters and vertical strokes.

◻️ I suspect that in selecting the winning work, the atmosphere and the market stalls charmed her; she even bought some food items.

◻️ In the years since her visit, the prestige of her work has grown enormously. Today, she is undoubtedly one of the most relevant architects in the world." Oscar Tusquets Blanca

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Jury report for the Premio Década 2008 (Works completed in 1998)

"First of all I would like to mention the Plaça Anna Frank designed by Ignasi de San Feliu.

▪️ I found this square a very attractive architecture. However, in the past 10 years, an additional building was built only on one side, and I feel it lost a bit of it’s sensitivity toward the plaza created in the city.

▪️ The winning entry, I’m happy to announce, is the Mercat de la Concepció  designed by Albert de Pineda.

▪️ I am very impressed by how the beautiful original building has been renovated. It is careful and respectful work allowing it to powerfully exist and breath within the modern city.  Seeing how the building is occupied and used by people in the city makes me realize how the building fits in the city regardless of whether seen as a new or an old building.

▪️ In general, both architectural ideas represent something that I don't really have a chance to think about in Japan and they reminded me of the importance of the architects’ relationship to the city. "

Kazuyo Sejima

Barcelona, 6 october 2008

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{Photographs of the award ceremony by Rafael Vargas}