Yasmeen Lari, Pakistan's first female architect, has been awarded the Jane Drew Prize 2020 for raising the profile of women in architecture.
Aged 79, Lari has continued to dedicate her life to architecture since closing her practice in 2000, advising UNESCO and building homes for tens of thousands of people affected by floods and earthquakes in her home country.
"I am touched and humbled to be included among the galaxy of architects who have received this prize," Lari said.
Previous winners of the award, which is named for English architect and modernist pioneer Jane Drew, include Odile Decq, Denise Scott Brown, and Amanda Levete. The Jane Drew Award is part of the Architects' Journal (AJ) and The Architectural Review's W awards series, formally known as the Women in Architecture awards.
Lari is Pakistan's first female architect
Born in Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan, in 1941, Lari grew up in Lahore until she left to visit London at the age of 15. Initially there for a family holiday, she ended up staying and continuing her education in England.
She tried to enrol in architecture school, after her interest was piqued by seeing her father work on development projects in his role with the Indian Civil Service.
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