Unlike in previous years, there are no obvious favorites among the participants. All of them are a kind of "middle bar", and if this is the impact of the crisis, then we can only guess what level of construction will be included in the short list of 2010 and 2011 …
So far, observers (including bookmakers) see the most chances of winning at the Fuglsang Tony Fretton Museum, a small minimalist complex in the Danish town of Torebu. Besides him, the list includes two buildings by Richard Rogers; both belong to the "pre-crisis" typology: the Maggie Cancer Center at Charing Cross Hospital in London and the Bodegas Protos winery in Valladolid.
For the first time among the nominees - an urban development project: the plan "Liverpool 1" bureau BDP, the transformation of 17 hectares of neglected historical buildings into a district of shopping and entertainment facilities with a significant component of public space.
Also claiming for the award is the Kentish Town Public Health Center in London by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, where, with a modest budget, the architects managed to create not only a functional, but also an attractive building.
Last on the list is Eric Perry's London office complex in Aldermanbury Square, which is singled out primarily for its successful public space around the building.
The winner will be announced and the awards ceremony will take place on 17 October. The Sterling Prize is organized by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), sponsored by The Architects' Journal and the Chinese 3D-visualization firm Crystal CG (its participation caused a small scandal, as it was seen as inappropriate in the conditions of the crisis to promote foreign competitors of British companies).
