Pritzker Prize winner Mayne to talk at UCLA

Thom Mayne, who was named the 2005 Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate in March, is often referred to as an outsider, a nonconformist. His ultramodern designs -- and, at times, his temperament -- have been described as bold and aggressive.

But even rebels have their Zen-like moments.

When asked if winning architecture’s most prestigious award gave him pause to reflect on a career spanning three decades, Mayne said he and his work are very much “engaged in the present.”

In keeping with that theme, Mayne, who is principal of the architectural firm Morphosis in Santa Monica and a professor in UCLA’s department of architecture and urban design, will discuss his most recent work as part of a university lecture series at Royce Hall at 6:30 p.m. Monday. Admission is free.

His current portfolio includes the Caltrans District 7 Headquarters in downtown L.A., which opened in the fall, as well as projects such as the 2012 Olympic Village for New York City (which Mayne hopes will be built even if the Big Apple loses the bid) and a federal office building in San Francisco.

Architecture, Mayne says, is a complex art -- and his art is about connection. He adds that his work has always been inspired by, and responds to, the environment and the world at large. “Look around at day-to-day life for ideas,” he says, “and it finds its way into your work.”

His advice for budding designers and architects? Follow your instincts from the beginning. “You don’t start your real career until your 50s,” Mayne, 61, says. “That’s when [the architectural field] allows you to work on larger-scale projects.”

So in the meantime, he suggests, “find a place that you are comfortable with. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Make a lot of mistakes.”