Stirling Prize winner

[Feltwell]

Did anyone watch this last night?

Is it just me, but other than the fact that it's built out of brick rather than block or pre-fabricated panel, did the winner remind you of a new version of a now grotty sixties low-rise housing development?

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3124829&origin=BDbreakingnews

Not that I'm averse to new buildings - I loved the Nordpark cable railway.

 

[Nemesis]

Yup - and these are the same people who want to build something similar in Bath, a decsion which is triggering a UNESCO mission.

http://www.bathheritagewatchdog.org/western.htm

http://www.bathheritagewatchdog.org/westernpics.htm



Zaha Hadid should have won.

 

[Penners]

Did anyone watch this last night?

Yes, I did. And I entirely agree with you about the Cambridge housing development. Aesthetically unpleasant - particularly when built of that vile yellow brick, which apparently had to be specially sourced in Germany, because Cambridge Yellows aren't available any more (or so they said).

I loved the Innsbruck stations, too. Really exciting "organic" architecture. It was just a shame that some of the panels didn't fit properly.

 

[Feltwell]

I loved the Innsbruck stations, too. Really exciting "organic" architecture. It was just a shame that some of the panels didn't fit properly.

I agree, but it was incredible they got them to fit that well ! I bet the engineer for that job cursed the architect.....

It's just occured to me what the winning entry reminded me of - the Chatsworth Estate of course! No, not that one, I mean the one from "Shameless" on Channel 4 - just add a bit of graffiti and the odd burnt out car, and you're there....

 

[DaveBrigg]

Given the historic damp problems associated with high density affordable housing, the architect could have chosen his words a little more carefully:
"What we are doing is changing the mould of housing"

 

[Gareth Hughes]

The winning development is rather splendid, actually (I assume you went to see it rather than relying on five minutes with St Kevin?)
Many differences to 1960s grotty estates, not least of which is that the 1960s grotty estates were built as a cheap mass housing solution by bodies which then decided they couldn't care less about maintenance and management, whereas the Cambridge "estate" has a pretty high sun-blush tomato and polenta ratio. (Rather like the successful and highly-sought-after Barbican estate in London, which would have been blown up by now had it been two miles further north, east or south).

 

[Nemesis]

I have seen it via the Accordialiving website, been watching it for quite some time, and still don't think it should have won.

The 'terraced crematoria' jibe had some substance, and I wonder what the flats will look like in 20 years, when the wood has been painted different colours and the lights replaced by carriage lamps from B and Q.

However - architects awarding other architects awards so they can describe themselves as 'award winning' etc...

 

[Nemesis]

Anyhow - here's Tom in t'Times today:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/architecture_and_design/article4943397.ece


and the Groan 2005:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2005/jul/16/property.homesandgardens


Trouble is with Tom D he's far too nice to really be rude about anything.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I have seen it via the Accordialiving website, been watching it for quite some time, and still don't think it should have won.

The 'terraced crematoria' jibe had some substance, and I wonder what the flats will look like in 20 years, when the wood has been painted different colours and the lights replaced by carriage lamps from B and Q.

However - architects awarding other architects awards so they can describe themselves as 'award winning' etc...

All surgeons are eminent, all playwrights are controversial, all architects are award-winning (me? oh, the Exeter Society of Architects Prize for written work, 1993. And some other stuff - the downstairs loo's got all my certificates in it - very absorbing)

 

[Nemesis]

Mr Wilson and his Weekly Wrap (Architecture Scotland):

Awards, awards….
With the shortlist now announced for this year’s Andrew Doolan’ Best Building in Scotland Award, it is gratifying to see the range, diversity and quietly understated quality on offer. Commercial, culture, education, housing, leisure and restoration projects are all there, whilst notably absent are representations from the world of PFI/PPP (whether in education, healthcare or other forms of ‘public’ building) as well any so-called ‘iconic’ projects. This can only be a good thing: the profession needs to make clear in as many ways as possible to the public, press and politicians that real design quality can make a difference to the country’s economy and culture and that this doesn’t generally manifest itself when the architectural dimension of new projects is novated to the interests of mammon.

Bewilderingly, the AJ has referred to the list as ‘eclectic’, but it is hardly any more so than the shortlist for the Stirling Prize which, after all, starts out in much the same way, i.e. as an invitation to architects to submit entries. In the case of the Stirling, the invite is to the RIBA’s Regional Awards, with the winners in each area put forward for RIBA National Awards. The winners of the latter provide the longlist of projects from which the final five are selected for Stirling Prize consideration. Readers of previous Wraps will understand that the judging of the RIBA Regional and National Awards is entirely equitable and therefore immune to any accusations of eclecticism, elitism or edifice-ism. The AJ of course sponsors the Stirling Prize and the final selection is therefore dependably, quintessentially British: entirely honourable and absolutely above the kind of machinations that are all too often discernible in the kind of award schemes that operate in less well developed parts of the world.

Yeah, I was Brain of Class 1 at primary school, Form Prize several years' running, (which peed the staff off but they hadn't a choice but to award it to me for being topp) got the Annabella Winship Smiles (no, I don't know either...) Memorial Prize for Art in the 6th Form... even a 'prize winning' writer in more recent times...*

and has it done me any good?

Nah.

* Cash prizes spent on alcohol.

Never mind. Finally been awarded me old age pension this month. Lived long enough to qualify.


Scottish awards:

http://www.e-architect.co.uk/awards/best_building_in_scotland_award.htm

The shortlist (alphabetical by location) is:
Tigh Na Dobhran (single family dwelling), Argyll by Studio KAP
Dawyck Gateway Visitor Centre, Dawyck by Simpson & Brown Architects
Todlaw Supported Housing, Duns by Oliver Chapman Architects
Quartermile Development, Edinburgh by Foster + Partners
Telford Drive (housing development), Edinburgh by GM + AD Architects
Potterrow, Edinburgh by Bennetts Associates
Castlemilk House Stables Block, Glasgow by Elder & Cannon Architects
Jordanhill School New Teaching Block, Glasgow by Elder & Cannon Architects
Heart of Hawick, Hawick by Gray, Marshall & Associates
Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Inverness by Gareth Hoskins Architects Ltd
Eden Court Theatre (refurbishment), Inverness by Page\ Park

 

[FamilyWiggs]

...the downstairs loo's got all my certificates in it - very absorbing)

Cue Penners...

 

[Nemesis]

my certificates

Absorbent Hughes?


Look lad - you know archeetecture curtificuts aren't the stuff baby labbies roll around with, e'en though printed with 'Now wash your hands' on every sheet.

 

[Moo]

baby labbies

?

 

[Penners]

...the downstairs loo's got all my certificates in it - very absorbing)

Cue Penners...

Damn! I've forgotten my lines. Prompt......

 

[FamilyWiggs]

...the downstairs loo's got all my certificates in it - very absorbing)

Cue Penners...

Damn! I've forgotten my lines. Prompt......

You could go with

"Soft, strong, and very long"

or the cruder

"Certificates? For all the good they'vew done me, I may as well wipe my .... with them"

etc etc.

 

[Nemesis]

Anyhow - see post above:

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3124804

Delighted to say that the Castemilk Stables rescue and re-use won joint first prize.

http://www.gbpt.org/projects/castlemilk.html

http://www.architecture.com/Awards/RIBAAwards/Winners2008/Scotland/CastlemilkStables/CastlemilkStables.aspx