Jean Nouvel speaks to the AJ about 2008 Pritzker Prize win

Speaking from Paris, Nouvel told the AJ that he believes he won the prize because of his refusal to design 'generics'.

He said: 'Generic buildings are the obsession of today; I create buildings with a different feel, a different vocabulary and colour.

'I always have the same attitude to research to make sure I have the right building in the right place in this moment.

'For me builldings are alive and I like their differences,' Nouvel added.

The 62-year-old architect, who is currently working on two schemes in the City of London – with Norman Foster on 'The Cloud' office development at Walbrook Square and on Land Securities' One New Change – will receive the coveted bronze medallion in Washington's Library of Congress on June 2.

The $100,000 (£50,000) prize, which last year went to Richard Rogers, was established in 1979 by the Pritzker family – owners of the Hyatt hotel chain – to recognise an architect's body of work.