Xu Tiantian, the founder and principal architect of DnA_Design and Architecture, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Le Prix Charlotte Perriand. This prestigious award recognizes architects who demonstrate innovation, social responsibility, and a strong connection to communities and places. The Créateurs Design Awards (CDA) announced her selection, highlighting her work in bridging urban and rural areas through design. Xu Tiantian's architectural approach is seen as a vital tool for preserving culture and revitalizing rural regions.
Key Takeaways
- Xu Tiantian received the 2026 Le Prix Charlotte Perriand.
- The award honors innovation, social responsibility, and community engagement in architecture.
- Her work focuses on revitalizing rural communities and preserving cultural heritage.
- Xu Tiantian developed the "Architectural Acupuncture" approach.
- The award ceremony will take place on January 17, 2026, in Paris.
Recognizing Transformative Architectural Impact
Le Prix Charlotte Perriand celebrates architects whose work aligns with Charlotte Perriand's enduring legacy. This includes a dedication to innovation, social responsibility, and designing for humanity. The award acknowledges practitioners whose projects go beyond mere aesthetics to create significant positive change within communities and the built environment. It is presented by the Créateurs Design Awards, a global program that recognizes excellence across various creative fields.
The Créateurs Design Awards include over 300 jurors from 55 countries. Past honorees include notable figures such as Tadao Ando, Virgil Abloh, and Norman Foster. Xu Tiantian joins a distinguished list of previous Le Prix Charlotte Perriand recipients, including Frida Escobedo, Jeanne Gang, Kazuyo Sejima, and Ryue Nishizawa. This recognition underscores the global impact of her architectural philosophy.
Award Fact
Le Prix Charlotte Perriand is one of the most respected accolades in architecture, emphasizing social impact and innovation over purely aesthetic achievements.
Xu Tiantian's Background and Approach
Xu Tiantian established DnA_Design and Architecture in the early 2000s. She holds a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Her undergraduate degree in Architecture is from Tsinghua University. Since founding DnA, her work has consistently focused on projects that connect with local communities, cultural heritage, and natural landscapes. She integrates architecture into existing social and ecological systems, aiming to strengthen these systems rather than disrupt them.
Beyond her architectural practice, Xu Tiantian is also an academic. She serves as a visiting professor at several prestigious institutions. These include Yale University, Tsinghua University, the University of Hong Kong, and the Università della Svizzera Italiana in Mendrisio. Her architectural work has also been featured in international exhibitions at venues such as MoMA in New York, the Venice Biennale, and the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA).
"Xu Tiantian embodies Le Prix Charlotte Perriand and what it stands for with her deep grounding and appreciation for the local communities and cities she is designing within. She is reshaping rural landscapes in China in a way that is shifting the cultural dialogue, and we are excited to celebrate her work through our global community."
— Meredith Xavier, Co-Founder of the Créateurs Design Association
The "Architectural Acupuncture" Methodology
A significant aspect of Xu Tiantian's practice is her "Architectural Acupuncture" approach. She introduced this methodology in 2014 in Songyang County, Zhejiang Province, China. This approach involves precise, small-scale interventions in underutilized spaces. The goal is to revitalize local economies, preserve heritage, and strengthen community identity. This method applies targeted architectural solutions to specific problems, much like acupuncture addresses specific points in the body.
The UN-Habitat organization has recognized Xu Tiantian's Architectural Acupuncture. They consider it a model for enhancing connections between urban and rural areas. This recognition has influenced global discussions on sustainable rural development. The methodology demonstrates how thoughtful, small-scale design can lead to large-scale positive change.
Rural Revitalization in China
China has seen significant efforts in rural revitalization. Architects like Xu Tiantian play a key role in these initiatives. Their work helps to improve living conditions, boost local economies, and preserve cultural identities in rural areas facing urbanization challenges.
Upcoming Ceremony and Award Submissions
The official presentation of Le Prix Charlotte Perriand to Xu Tiantian will occur during a ceremony on January 17, 2026. The event is scheduled to take place at the Shangri-La Paris. This ceremony will gather prominent figures from the global architecture and design community.
For other creative professionals, submissions for the Créateurs Design Awards are currently open. Works completed between April 2024 and November 2025 are eligible. The submission deadline is November 23, 2025. Categories include Architecture, Design, Interior Design, Photography, Journalism, Digital Art, Curation, and, for the first time, Landscape Architecture. This expansion highlights the CDA's commitment to recognizing a broad spectrum of creative excellence.
Key Dates
- Award Ceremony: January 17, 2026, Shangri-La Paris
- CDA Submissions Close: November 23, 2025
- Eligible Work Period: April 2024 – November 2025
Previous Accolades and Broader Recognition
Xu Tiantian's selection for Le Prix Charlotte Perriand adds to her extensive list of previous awards and honors. In 2022, she received the Swiss Architectural Award. The 2023 Berlin Art Prize for Architecture also recognized her work. Other significant accolades include the Marcus Prize, the UNESCO Global Award for Sustainable Architecture, and the Holcim Gold Award for Asia-Pacific. Most recently, she was honored with the 2025 Wolf Prize for Architecture.
Her contributions to architecture extend to academic and professional bodies. In 2024, she was elected as a member of the Akademie der Künste (ADK) in Berlin. Xu Tiantian also participated in the "Beyond the Prize" discussion forum during the opening week of the Venice Biennale. This forum brought together representatives from six major architecture awards to discuss the role and future potential of architectural recognition in addressing current social and environmental challenges.
According to industry reports, other women in architecture have also recently gained international recognition. These include the Indian office ReSa Architects, winners of the Lisbon Architecture Triennale Début Award 2025, and Vietnamese architect Trần Thị Ngụ Ngôn, who received the Diversity in Architecture (DIVIA) Award 2025. These awards collectively highlight a growing recognition of diverse voices and innovative approaches within the global architectural community.