A HAMPSHIRE architect has won the highest value architecture prize in the world.

Robert Adam, director of Winchester-based ADAM Architecture has been named the recipient of the 2017 Richard H. Driehaus Prize at the University of Notre Dame in the United States.

Mr Adam, the 15th recipient, will be awarded the $200,000 prize and a bronze miniature of the Choregic Monument of Lysikrates during a ceremony on March 25.

The Richard H. Driehaus Prize at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana USA, was established in 2003 to honour lifetime contributions to traditional, classical and sustainable architecture and urbanism in the modern world.

The prize is awarded annually to a living architect whose work has had positive cultural, environmental and artistic impact in keeping with the highest ideals of classical architecture in contemporary society.

Mr Adam, regarded as one of the leading classical architect in the country and based in Hyde, said: “I am delighted and honoured to be awarded this important prize. It will be a privilege to join with the previous eminent winners.

"I must extend my sincere thanks to the members of the jury and, in particular, to Richard Driehaus whose commitment to architecture and urban design and generosity have made this possible.”

Among his projects has been Ashley Park in the Test Valley.
Previous winners of the Driehaus prize include Leon Krier and Quinlan Terry.

Michael Lykoudis, chairman of the judges’ panel, said: “Throughout his career, Robert Adam has engaged the critical issues of our time, challenging contemporary attitudes toward architecture and urban design. He has written extensively on the tensions between globalism and regionalism as we shape our built environment.

“Sustainability is at the foundation of his work, achieved through urbanism and architecture that is respectful of local climate, culture and building customs.”

Mr Adam works with clients on a wide range of projects including master planning, public and commercial buildings, extensions to historic buildings and private houses. 

He is the author of numerous essays as well as books, most notably Classical Architecture: A Complete Handbook (1990), The Globalisation of Modern Architecture (2012) and Classic Columns: 40 years of writing on architecture, which will be published at the end of January 2017.

Mr Adam is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an Academician at the Academy of Urbanism, a Senior Fellow of the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment (Heritage) and founder and past-Chair of the College of Chapters at INTBAU (UK).