In anticipation of Saturday's award ceremony, the short-list (note I'm judging these from what I've read and photos - and see also http://www.channel4.com/4homes/architecture/riba-stirling-prize/):

Accordia
Architect: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios/Alison Brooks Architects/Macreanor Lavington
Copyright: Tim Crocker
Client: Countryside Properties
Award: RIBA Award

A garden surburb development in Cambridge - high density housing but with sizeable living space. Looks a bit blocky for my taste, with odd chimneys. See http://www.cabe.org.uk/casestudies.aspx?csid=1291&imgid=4

Biljmer Station
Architect: Grimshaw/Arcadis
Copyright: Ger van der Vlugt
Client: Prorail/City of Amsterdam
Award: RIBA European Award

Cool looking station in Amsterdam: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dizono/2889455715/sizes/s/
Brings together railway, a bus station, access to the Ajax stadium, a loggia and a public housing estate. Sexier than St Pancras.

Manchester Civil Justice Centre
Architect: Denton Corker Marshall
Copyright: Tim Griffith
Client: Allied London
Award: RIBA Award

Huge (biggest since Royal Courts of Justice) courthouse, likely to be nicknamed the filing cabinet. Looks like a collection of grey Lego bricks for the central building with colour glass chambers poking out the sides. Apparently very good for the environment - with natural ventilation. I don't like it, but it does look good in polarise light (see http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Manchester%20Civil%20Justice%20Centre&w=all&s=int)


Nordpark Cable Railway
Architect: Zaha Hadid with Patrik Schumacher
Copyright: Werner Huthmacher
Client: Nordpark
Award: RIBA European Award


A cable railway in Innsbruck with four stations which mixed concrete and curved glass. Looks sensuous and pretty.

Royal Festival Hall
Architect: Allies and Morrison
Copyright: Dennis Gilbert
Client: Ian Blackburn
Award: RIBA Award

A makeover of a mid-twentieth century friend, reorientating the building and freeing up public space by shifting the offices elsewhere. I have to say that I liked it the way it was, and on my visit there felt disoriented in a way I hadn't before.

See http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3010/2584787423_4ef1c63609_m.jpg

Westminster Academy
Architect: Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Copyright: Tim Soar
Client: Westminster Academy/ Westminster Council
Award: RIBA Award

Frankly looks like a glassed in multistorey car park. From a concrete plaza near the Westway you enter a atrium which is surrounded by teaching spaces - and educational slogans that defy parody.
See http://www.flickr.com/photos/globaldimension/2878826702/sizes/s/ Communication, Global Citizenship and Enterprise. Bleuh. Stephen Bayley calls it a toponymic subterfuge


On screen, I'd go for one of the two railways.

Note the lack of Terminal 5, St Pancras (last year?) and Wembley from the shortlist
If you don't have an account you can create one now.
HTML doesn't work in the subject.
More info about formatting
.

Profile

faustus: (Default)
faustus

Most Popular Tags

Powered by Dreamwidth Studios

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags