On 14 November 2024, the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid hosted the presentation of two prestigious honours: the 12th Rafael Manzano Prize for New Traditional Architecture, and the 5th Richard H. Driehaus Medal for Heritage Preservation.

The 12th Rafael Manzano Prize for New Traditional Architecture has been awarded to Juan Luis Camacho Molina, a Spanish architect with a long track record in heritage rehabilitation and the design of new buildings rooted in architectural tradition, harmoniously integrated into their urban or natural settings.

Camacho shared his vision at the award ceremony, stating:

‘I want people to live with all the comforts and possibilities of our time while cherishing the beauty and richness of the culture that makes their surroundings unique and valuable.’

The 2024 Richard H. Driehaus Medal for Heritage Preservation has been awarded to Carmen Añón Feliú, in recognition of her distinguished career in the protection, dissemination, and preservation of historic gardens and cultural landscapes over more than six decades. 

During the ceremony, Añón remarked:

‘This recognition isn’t just for me but for every tree and plant in the gardens that stand as living symbols of our culture and identity.’

The Rafael Manzano Prize and the Richard H. Driehaus Heritage Preservation Medal are organized thanks to Richard H. Driehaus by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation, in collaboration with INTBAU Spain, INTBAU Portugal, the Fundação Serra Henriques, the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, and the Ordem dos Arquitectos. These initiatives were recognised with the high patronage of His Excellency the President of the Portuguese Republic.

Gallery: Award Ceremony

The 12th Rafael Manzano Prize for New Traditional Architecture

Juan Luis Camacho Molina is a Spanish architect with a long track record in heritage rehabilitation and the design of new buildings rooted in architectural tradition, harmoniously integrated into their urban or natural settings. Over his career, pursued chiefly in the Las Vegas area of the Madrid Region, his work has shown great respect for the materials, trades, memory, and culture of each place and given special attention to the creation and preservation of public spaces able to enhance their users’ quality of life.

His work has been vital to preserving and giving continuity to the cultural and architectural character of the Las Vegas area, and especially the towns of Colmenar de Oreja and Chinchón, where he has family roots. Many of the sites of his projects have become gathering places, strengthening the community’s social and cultural fabric.

Video made by Irene Pérez Porro presenting the work of Juan Luis Camacho, for which he has been awarded the Rafael Manzano Prize 2024.

The 2024 Richard H. Driehaus Medal for Heritage Preservation

Carmen Añón, born in Barcelona in 1931, moved to Madrid in 1941 and trained at the Castillo de Batres Landscape and Garden School. Specializing in historic garden and landscape conservation, she became a leading figure in Spain and internationally. Serving on the Madrid City Council (1979-1983), she created Madrid’s first garden inventory and was a dedicated professor and member of cultural heritage committees, including ICOMOS and the International World Heritage Advisory Committee. Her projects include restoring Spain’s iconic gardens, such as Aranjuez and El Capricho, and contributing to international sites like Parma, Italy, and Sintra, Portugal. Her approach emphasized gardens as evolving spaces, focusing on harmony and design rather than static preservation. Carmen’s legacy includes inspiring future generations of landscape architects, including her daughters, and earning honors like the National Award for Restoration (2017) and the Europa Nostra Award (1995).

Video made by Pabo Sevilla presenting the work of Armen Añón, for which she has been awarded the Richard H. Driehaus Heritage Preservation Medal 2024

Images and text provided by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation.

Learn more about the Rafael Manzano Prize and the Richard H. Driehaus Heritage Preservation Medal.