The Wolf Foundation stated that the prize was given to the Japanese architectures “for their work that highlights the importance to architecture of its ethnographic and inhabitational characteristics, in their writings and practice”. According to ETH Zurich, they were also praised for bringing research, education and practical design together, and to focus on a social, responsible and sustainable form of architecture.

Prof. Momoyo Kaijima and Prof. Yoshiharu Tsukamoto founded their Atelier Bow-Wow in 1992. Influenced by their native city of Tokyo, they published several works focusing on small houses featuring high-quality living spaces, taking intelligent designs and the needs of the residence into consideration. Over the years, they developed their own concept architectural behaviorology that describes “theoretical and methodological approaches from ethnography, social geography and philosophy to the field of architecture” as described by ETH Zurich.

The Wolf Prize is bestowed annually to scientists and artists “for achievements in the interest on mankind and friendly relations amongst people” since 1978. Award are given in the categories agriculture, architecture, arts, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, music and physics, each of them awarded with USD 100’000.

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