According to the RIBA, which announced the honour today (6 February), the medal recognises the Japanese practices work around the globe and projects that bring simplicity, light and elegance to the fore.SANAA is known for its sustainable, user-centred design including art galleries such as the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, the 21stCentury Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa (2004), Lourve-Lens in France (2012) and the Sydney Modern in New South Wales, Australia (2022).In 2010 the studio completed the quietly flowing low rise Rolex Learning Center at the cole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne.AdvertisementSANAA has only had one project built in the UK: the 2009 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion.Other notable works over the course of their three decade career include, the Dior Omotesando Store, Japan (2003); Zollverein School of Design, Germany (2006); and Grace Farms, USA (2015)The medal is the latest in a series of international accolades for Sejima and Nishizawa, who won the Pritzker Prize in 2010 just 15 years after setting up practice.The RIBAs honours committee praised the pair for shaping a universal language of architecture that resonates with people everywhere and for their distinctive use of light [that] lends their spaces an ethereal quality.They added that SANAAs designs balanced boldness with sensitivity to the local environment, and that their works demonstrate that architecture can be both functional and profoundly elegant, offering a sense of calm amidst an increasingly complex and chaotic world.Advertisement Source:Iwan BaanSANAA's Sydney Modern, Australia (2022).On receiving news of the medal, Sejima and Nishizawa said: We've always believed that architecture can transform and repair environments, helping us to relate to our surroundings, nature and each other.Architecture is always teamworkThroughout our careers we have tried to make spaces that bring people together, inviting them to imagine new ways of living and learning collectively.They added: Architecture is always teamwork, and weare very grateful to everyone that has given us opportunities to develop these ideas over the years, and to all those people that have worked tirelessly with us to realise them. This is a very happy moment for us, thank you.The honours committee was chaired by RIBA president Muyiwa Oki, and comprised last years Royal Gold Medallist Lesley Lokko; architect and founder of BIG, Bjarke Ingels; and architect and co-founding director of dRMM, Sadie Morgan.Oki said SANAAs designs exemplified an unassuming yet impactful leadership in the evolving practice and theory of architecture [demonstrating] that architecture can balance functionality with profound elegance.True pioneers in the field, their unwavering commitment to sustainable, user-centred design has quietly blazed a trail for others, setting an inspiring standard for the future of our built environment.Showing remarkable clarity and consistency over the decades, their work serves as a lasting testament to the transformative power of architecture to inspire joy, create a sense of belonging, and connect us to the environments we inhabit.A public celebration of SANAA will take place in London on 1 May. Source: The Japan Art Association / The Sankei ShimbunKazuyo Sejima (left) and Ryue Nishizawa at their office, 2022Citation in full by the 2025 RIBA Honours CommitteeSejima and Nishizawa and Associates (SANAA) is the established collaborative practice of Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa. Spanning nearly three decades, their work has become a standard for creating meaningful, culturally insightful, and elegant architectural designs.Their work has reshaped the global design landscape, producing works that bring simplicity, light and elegance to the fore, establishing themselves as leaders in architectures global discourse. The projects bring spaces to life with a simplicity that resonates deeply across cultures and generations.SANAAs extraordinary talent comes from the unusual nature of their practice. One which oscillates between the two partners as individual practitioners, but whose many collaborations always produce interesting and remarkable results.Balancing subtlety with strength, SANAAs landmark works speak for themselves. From the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa to the Rolex Learning Centre in Lausanne, these projects blend transparency with solidity, uniting public and private spaces.Their hallmark is creating a seamless flow of natural lightWith simple, elegant materials and graceful lines, their designs invite interaction, creating a seamless flow of natural light a hallmark of their approach. Their work at the New Museum in New York and the Louvre-Lens in France reflects the innovative spirit and technical skill, bringing warmth and life to every space. Bold yet respectful of the local environment, SANAA has, since its founding, shaped a universal language of architecture that resonates with people everywhere.As pioneers in sustainable, user-centred design, SANAA exemplifies an unassuming yet impactful leadership in the evolving practice and theory of architecture. Their lasting commitment to minimalist, human-focused space speaks to a deep understanding of architecture's power to shape society. In an era where sustainability and accessibility are increasingly essential, SANAAs work continues to set a thoughtful, inspiring standard.This medal recognises a practice that has exemplified remarkable clarity and consistency over the decades. It is a testament to their contribution to architecture - intellectually rigorous yet playfully engaging. Their legacy is rooted in a shared vision where architecture prioritises the human experience and human interaction, alongside form and function.As pioneers, they demonstrate that architecture can be both functional and profoundly elegant, bringing a sense of calm to our increasingly complex and chaotic world. Their designs prove that good architecture is approachable, easy to use, and compelling, as it embodies a global language of design understood across culture and generations. Source:Dean KaufmanNew Museum of Contemporary Art, New York, 2007