The Spirit of Nature Wood Architecture Award which is sponsored by the Finnish Forestry industry was awarded to Peter Zumthor this year (via). See the pdf of award and the organisers website.
Even in Finland we talk about “Wow” architecture. The buildings are expected to astonish the viewer. I’m convinced that this is exactly the type of work that Peter Zumthor creates, with a whole spectrum of emotional range. However the impression left by his works is a long-lasting one. In his works, Zumthor constantly reinvents the building and it is done without the sole purpose of wanting to create something new and dazzling. Paradoxically enough, the result always returns to the tradition, to the archetypes of building. Each building by Zumthor is like the one-metre Iridium Model, with which the architects of the world have to measure their own creations. ( Chairman of the jury Mikko Heikkinen)
He gave a talk in Helsinki as well which I missed!
Previous winners are Richard Leplastrier in 2004, Kengo Kuma in 2002, and Renzo Piano in 2000.