In Pictures: RIBA Stirling Prize 2015 Nominees
The nominations are in! We take a look at the shortlisted structures vying for the top spot as Britain’s best new building…
Competing for the most prestigious accolade in architecture, this year’s Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize includes an innovative and exceptionally original group of contenders, one of which is set to succeed last year’s winners, Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre.
Chaired by president elect Jane Duncan, this year’s jury will have the unenviable task of selecting the winner from the six selected buildings. Noticeably, only two hail from outside of London:
- The Burntwood School in Wandsworth, London, by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
- Darbishire Place in Whitechapel, London, by Niall McLaughlin Architects
- Maggie’s Lanarkshire, Central Scotland, by Reiach and Hall Architects
- NEO Bankside, London, by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
- The University of Greenwich Stockwell Street Building, London, by Heneghan Peng Architects
- The Whitworth at the University of Manchester by MUMA.
With such a decidedly varied group of buildings, the prize brings together a range designs from the newly built – such as the structurally inspiring NEO Bankside luxury housing towers, and the modest, low built Maggie’s Lanarkshire – to the newly transformed — such as the Whitworth’s seamless blend of 19th century architecture and 21st century innovation; a feat that led to its crowning as Museum of the Year 2014.
Community-led projects, such as the Burntwood School and Darbishire Place housing, demonstrate characterful yet refined details, while the Stockwell Street Building at the University of Greenwich boasts a UNESCO world heritage site as its stunning surroundings. Yet despite such undeniable variety, as RIBA President Stephen Hodder states, “their stand-out common quality is their exceptionally executed crafted detail.”
The Winner will be announced in a special ceremony on 15 October 2015 at the RIBA headquarters in London. Our favourite? In a typically London-heavy shortlist, it has to be Manchester’s The Whitworth – not because we’re playing devils advocate, but because MUMA genuinely made us fall in love with the building all over again at its re-launch back in February. However, judging by the superb competition, this is going to be a close call.
Above: The Burntwood School in Wandsworth by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (image courtesy Rob Parrish)
Darbishire Place, Peabody housing, E1 by Niall McLaughlin Architects (image courtesy Nick Kane)
Maggie’s Lanarkshire by Reiach and Hall Architects (image courtesy David Grandorge)
NEO Bankside, SE1 by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (image courtesy Edmund Sumner)
The University of Greenwich Stockwell Street Building, SE10 by Heneghan Peng Architects (image courtesy Hufton+ Crow)
The Whitworth at the University of Manchester by MUMA (image courtesy Alan Williams)
Heather Garner
More on Twitter #StirlingPrize and on the six shortlisted buildings for this year’s Stirling Prize
Read Sneak Peek: Inside The New Everyman
Read We Fell In Love Again: The Whitworth — Reviewed
