Sejima received the Erich Schelling Architecture Prize in Karlsruhe, Germany, for outstanding contemporary architecture.
On November 9, 2000, Kazuyo Sejima was awarded the Erich Schelling Architecture Prize by the Schelling Foundation, based in Karlsruhe, Germany. The prize is awarded periodically to architects whose work demonstrates exceptional innovation and contribution to contemporary architectural discourse.
At the time of the award, Sejima had already established a strong international reputation through her independent practice and her nascent partnership with Ryue Nishizawa in SANAA, founded in 1995. Her early works, characterized by minimalist forms, transparency, and innovative use of light, had begun to attract significant attention from European architectural institutions.
The Erich Schelling Prize recognized Sejima at a pivotal early stage in her international career, years before her Pritzker Prize win, highlighting her emerging influence on global architectural trends even as SANAA was still developing many of the landmark projects that would later define the practice's legacy.
This European recognition helped establish Sejima's reputation on the continent, paving the way for future major commissions and collaborations in Europe, including the Rolex Learning Center in Switzerland and numerous exhibitions and installations across Germany and beyond.