Peter Zumthor, the renowned Swiss architect famous for the 2011 Serpentine Pavilion, has been awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Royal Gold Medal at a ceremony in London. Presented to the architect on 6 February in front of a room of 200 people at RIBA’s headquarters, the prize is awarded to architects who have had a significant effect 'either directly or indirectly on the advancement of architecture'.

Angela Brady, RIBA’s president, who presented the award, said:”Peter Zumthor's work renews the link with a tradition of modern architecture that emphasises place, community and material practice. His writings dwell upon the experience of designing, building and inhabitation while his buildings are engaged in a rich dialogue with architectural history.”

Born in Basel, the 69-year-old architect and winner of the 2009 Pritzker Prize founded his own firm in Switzerland in 1979 and is known for his minimalist designs. His famous projects include the Vals Thermal Baths in Switzerland, Kuntshaus Bregenz in Austria and the Kolumba Diocesan Museum in Cologne, Germany and he currently works from a studio in Haldenstein in Switzerland.