Author, professor, scholar, and architect Witold Rybczynski, Hon. FAIA, will receive the eighth Vincent J. Scully Prize on January 17 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Rybczynski was selected for his decades of contributions to architecture and urban planning. One such contribution—and perhaps the most famous—is Home: A Short History of an Idea, which has been translated into 10 languages. Published two decades ago, the book attempts to discover the meaning of comfort by exploring houses and their furnishings from the Middle Ages to modern times.
Described by Library Journal as “one of the most original, accessible, and stimulating writers on architecture,” Rybczynski has authored numerous award-winning books and essays for such venerable publications as The Atlantic and The Wall Street Journal. He has also been recognized for his teaching and research prowess—he’s currently a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts—as well as for his built contributions.
