Louis Becker awarded the Eckersberg Medal

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Extract from the citation: ”Louis Becker has set himself the goal of putting Danish architecture on the world map by taking a conceptual approach to architecture on a large scale.” And further: “Louis Becker creates architecture that goes far beyond aesthetics – ideas are developed and the Scandinavian approach to architecture is incorporated in an open dialogue where more value is generated than questions asked. In his work for Henning Larsen Architects, Louis Becker has demonstrated exceptional commitment to designing and building cities where it makes the biggest difference – where it influences a model of society, and where the solution lies in architecture.”

Louis Becker graduated as an architect from Aarhus School of Architecture in 1989. He was employed at Henning Larsen Architects in 1989 and was appointed Director in 2005 with responsibility for the international market. Louis Becker has been the driving force behind a number of Danish and international projects. In February 2011, he was elected to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

”Receiving the Eckersberg Medal is a great honour. Not least because the Medal is awarded by my colleagues in the Academic Council”, says Louis Becker. “The field of architecture is rapidly developing in present years, and Danish architecture will not be able to keep up without inspiration from and interaction with the places in the world where developments are taking place. As artists, we should focus much more on looking out into the world for inspiration. We can learn a lot from the world surrounding us, and knowledge and inspiration will be brought to Denmark if we play an active role on the international stage.”

Louis Becker has been Adjunct Professor at Aalborg University since 2008. Through many years, he has been closely attached to the Danish schools of architecture and has been a lecturer and external examiner in Aalborg, Aarhus and Copenhagen.

The Eckersberg Medal is awarded to individuals ”who have made an extraordinary contribution of high artistic quality in free or bound art.” The Medal has previously been awarded to Henning Larsen (1965) and Troels Troelsen (2008) from Henning Larsen Architects.

For further information, please contact Communications Manager Farid Fellah, Henning Larsen Architects, ffe@henninglarsen.com or (+45) 60 35 21 60.

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Academic Council's Citation

With the Eckersberg Medal, the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts recognises individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution of high artistic quality in free or bound art. The Academy had the Medal plated in bronze on the occasion of the centenary of C.V. Eckersberg's birth on 2 January 1783.

In 2011, Architect Louis Becker has been awarded the Eckersberg Medal on the basis of the following citation:

Louis Becker has set himself the goal of putting Danish architecture on the world map by taking a conceptual approach to architecture on a large scale.

Louis Becker and Henning Larsen Architects design high-quality master plans and buildings. However, design and detail are not enough - well-substantiated arguments should be presented to the client, the dialogue should be open and constructive, and the client should feel ownership of the ideas presented to him. The questions asked are often more open than in Denmark, which requires for the architect to base arguments on well-documented knowledge from a broad spectrum of specialists. In terms of design, it is also about how sustainability, for instance, becomes an architectural discipline of its own.

The method is to thoroughly examine what has to be done and subsequently come up with an architectural idea - in collaboration with the client and based on the location - which creates identity and pride and is rooted in the local context.

Louis Becker creates architecture that goes far beyond aesthetics - ideas are developed and the Scandinavian approach to architecture is incorporated in an open dialogue where more value is generated than questions asked.

In his work for Henning Larsen Architects, Louis Becker has demonstrated exceptional commitment to designing and building cities where it makes the biggest difference - where it influences a model of society and where the solution lies in architecture.

Mere information...

Louis Becker

Louis Becker is Principal and Partner at Henning Larsen Architects. He has been part of the management team since 1998 and is responsible for the company's activities on the global market. He has been one of the driving forces behind a number of large Danish and international projects - from significant building icons to complex masterplans. In...