11 memorable projects from this year's most innovative architect

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Siamese towers on the San Joaquín campus at Universidad Cátolica. Elemental

The Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena just won this year's Pritzker Architecture Prize, architecture's equivalent to the Nobel Prize.

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Aravena focuses on designing architecture with a social conscience. He has spent his career building social housing and rebuilding cities after earthquakes.

Take a look at some of the designs from his 22-year career.

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Aravena is the first Pritzker winner from Chile and the fourth from South America. Aravena's work is fueled by impact on the community, rather than pure aesthetics.

Alejandro Aravena
Alejandro Aravena. Elemental

It's more important to create buildings that improve the lives on its residents, he has said. This social housing project in Monterrey, Mexico was financed by public funds.

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Social housing in Iquique, Chile. Elemental

Source: The New York Times

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His work gives "economic opportunity to the less privileged, mitigates the effects of natural disasters, reduces energy consumption, and provides welcoming public space," said Tom Pritzker, the prize's sponsor, in a statement.

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Social housing in Iquique, Chile. Elemental

Source: The Hyatt Foundation

Aravena's Santiago-based firm, Elemental, is known for its participatory construction process, which it calls "half a good house." The firm invites local residents to complete the project themselves over time, which Aravena says raises their standard of living.

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A building, before and after, funded by public money but built by its Chilean resident. Elemental
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Aravena's buildings has also helped victims of natural disasters.

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Construction for Villa Verde housing in Constitución, Chile. Elemental

When an earthquake displaced families in Constitución, Chile in 2010, his firm designed and built these villas in fewer than 100 days.

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Villa Verde housing in Constitución. Elemental

Source: Elemental

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He came up with a master plan for the seaside city, including infrastructure, public space, and housing.

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Elemental's post-tsunami plan for public space in Constitución, Chile. Elemental

Aravena worked directly with the community to meet its needs.

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Aravena's Constitución Cultural Center. Elemental
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In the same city, Aravena also built this lookout, meant to "highlight the natural heritage embodied by the huge rocks of the landscape." Aravena often uses local materials and minimalist aesthetics.

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Aravena's lookout in Constitución, Chile. Elemental

Elemental has also designed public buildings, including this classroom for his alma mater, Universidad Católica, in Santiago.

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The Innovation School at Universidad Católica. Elemental
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Here's another, made mostly from glass, on the university's art school campus.

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Siamese towers on the San Joaquín campus at Universidad Católica. Elemental

He designed dorms in the US too — at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, in 2008.

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St. Edward’s University dormitories in Austin, Texas. Elemental
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His office building for the health care company Novartis in Shanghai is currently under construction.

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Aravena's building for Novartis in Shanghai. Elemental

He has said he doesn't want to be famous or become wealthy from his work. The people who live in and interact with his work are much more important.

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Aravena's bicentennial children's park in Santiago. Elemental

Source: The New York Times

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