The Circle: a place for the people

An important visitor to The Circle: On the way back from attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Circle architect Riken Yamamoto returned to The Circle for the first time since winning the renowned Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2024.

At the WEF, the star architect was awarded the Crystal Award, alongside former football star and UNICEF ambassador David Beckham and fashion designer and women's rights activist Diane von Fürstenberg. By presenting Yamamoto with the award, the WEF paid tribute to his "dedication to society and sustainability." 

When we met up with the star architect to conduct an interview, the 80 year-old insisted we shrug off all pretences and do away with the formal address used in German. He answered the questions we posed with a great sense of tranquillity. However, there was only one topic on which he was assertive: Architecture must be for the people, as this is the only way it works, he said. 

Read the whole interview with Circle architect Riken Yamamoto in German: