Nathalie de Vries & Jacob van Rijs
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has named Nathalie de Vries and Jacob van Rijs – who, together with Winy Maas founded MVRDV in 1993 – among its 2019 Honorary Fellows. According to the AIA, this designation honours architects for their “exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society on an international level.” Each year the AIA elevates approximately 100 of its US-based members and to its College of Fellows. Alongside this, a select number of international non-AIA members are also rewarded with Honorary Fellowship. In 2019, the AIA has named 9 Honorary Fellows alongside its 115 Fellows. With this award, De Vries and Van Rijs join an esteemed list of internationally renowned architects. Eleven Dutch architects have previously been named Honorary Fellows of the AIA, including Aldo van Eyck, Rem Koolhaas, Herman Hertzberger, and William Marinus Dudok. Winy Maas, with whom De Vries and Van Rijs form MVRDV’s board of directors, received the designation in 2009. De Vries and Van Rijs will be honoured alongside the 7 other Honorary Fellows and 115 Fellows at a ceremony on June 7 at the AIA Conference on Architecture 2019 in Las Vegas. Further information can be found on the AIA website.