Ellen Peirson Wins 2026 Wheelwright Prize for Kitchen Research
Ellen Peirson, an architect and writer from London, has received the 2026 Wheelwright Prize from Harvard GSD. This prestigious award, valued at $100,000, will fund her two-year research initiative titled Ultra-Processed Kitchens: Infrastructures of Extraction in the Home. Peirson’s project examines kitchens as 'mineral landscapes' made up of clay, gypsum, and silica, focusing on their roles in extraction, petrochemical reliance, and waste generation. She envisions a new kitchen model that promotes well-being and respects ecological boundaries through principles of reuse and care. The jury for the 2026 award featured notable figures such as Harvard GSD dean Sarah Whiting and included finalists like Olga Cobușcean and Brittany Utting. The 2025 prize was awarded to Mauro Marinelli for his work in the Alps, Andes, and Himalayas.
Key facts
- Ellen Peirson wins 2026 Wheelwright Prize from Harvard GSD.
- Prize is $100,000 over two years.
- Project title: Ultra-Processed Kitchens: Infrastructures of Extraction in the Home.
- Kitchens analyzed as 'mineral landscapes' of clay, gypsum, and silica.
- Peirson proposes alternative kitchens that are non-pollutive and support well-being.
- Peirson splits time between architecture practice and writing in London.
- 2026 jury included Sarah Whiting, Mariana Ibañez, Marina Otero Verzier, Charles Waldheim, Jennifer Newsom, Oliver Wainwright.
- Four other finalists: Olga Cobușcean, Junho 'Sohun' Kang, Mohamad Nahleh, Brittany Utting.
Entities
Artists
- Ellen Peirson
- Mauro Marinelli
Institutions
- Harvard Graduate School of Design
- The Guardian
- Cornell University
- Dream the Combine
- Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Alps
- Andes
- Himalayas