The Ability To Please

2024 Author: David Durham | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 02:26

The award has been awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) since 1996: it was created on the basis of a similar award "Building of the Year" and bears the name of James Sterling, one of the largest architects of post-war Britain. It is believed that at the time of his death in 1992, he did not have time to receive recognition adequate to the talent, therefore the most prestigious award for his colleagues serves as a memorial to him.

The prize previously included a cash prize of £ 20,000, but in recent years, due to the difficult economic situation, it has been dispensed with. Not every time, but in most cases, the announcement and award ceremony is broadcast live on national television. This year the ceremony will take place on October 8th.

The criteria for the award are project vision, innovation and originality, the ability to excite, engage and delight the inhabitants and visitors of these buildings, their accessibility and sustainability, suitability for purpose and customer satisfaction. The short list is formed by the "internal" jury of RIBA from buildings awarded with National Institute awards (about fifty), and those are selected from the winners of regional awards. The owner of "Sterling" is determined by an external jury, its composition changes from year to year.

Residential area on Goldsmith Street

Norwich

Architects: Mikhail Riches and Cathy Hawley

8056 m2

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1/21 Goldsmith Street Residential Area Photo © Tim Crocker
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2/21 Goldsmith Street Residential Area Photo © Tim Crocker
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3/21 Goldsmith Street Residential Area Photo © Tim Crocker
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4/21 Goldsmith Street Residential Area Photo © Tim Crocker
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5/21 Housing estate on Goldsmith Street Photo © Tim Crocker
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6/21 Goldsmith Street Residential Area Photo © Matthew Pattenden
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7/21 Housing estate on Goldsmith Street Photo © Tim Crocker
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8/21 Goldsmith Street Residential Area Photo © Tim Crocker
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9/21 Goldsmith Street Residential Area Photo © Matthew Pattenden
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10/21 Goldsmith Street Residential Area Photo © Matthew Pattenden
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11/21 Goldsmith Street Residential Area Photo © Tim Crocker
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12/21 Housing estate on Goldsmith Street Photo © Tim Crocker
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13/21 Housing estate on Goldsmith Street Photo © Tim Crocker
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14/21 Housing estate on Goldsmith Street Photo © Tim Crocker
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15/21 Housing estate on Goldsmith Street Photo © Tim Crocker
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16/21 Housing estate on Goldsmith Street Photo © Tim Crocker
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17/21 Housing estate on Goldsmith Street Photo © Tim Crocker
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18/21 Housing estate on Goldsmith Street Photo © Tim Crocker
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19/21 Housing estate on Goldsmith Street Photo © Tim Crocker
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20/21 Housing estate on Goldsmith Street Photo © Tim Crocker
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21/21 Housing estate on Goldsmith Street Photo © Tim Crocker

The complex of 105 social rental apartments, which meets the Passivhaus standard, was commissioned by the municipality. The scheme is based on the traditional “terraced” scheme of block houses in England in the 19th century. The very high building density is compensated by high levels of insolation and protection of windows from outside views. Parking lots are located along the perimeter, so the streets in the residential area "belong" to its inhabitants.

House Cork House

Eton

Architects: Matthew Barnett Howland, Dido Milne and Oliver Wilton

44 sqm

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1/12 Cork House Photo © David Grandorge
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2/12 Cork House Photo © Ricky Jones
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3/12 Cork House Photo © Ricky Jones
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4/12 Cork House Photo © Ricky Jones
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5/12 Cork House Photo © Ricky Jones
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6/12 Cork House Photo © Ricky Jones
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7/12 Cork House Photo © Magnus Dennis
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8/12 Cork House Photo © David Grandorge
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9/12 Cork House Photo © Alex de Rijke
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10/12 Cork House Photo © Alex de Rijke
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11/12 Cork House Photo © Alex de Rijke
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12/12 Cork House Photo © Matthew Barnett Howland

Howland & Milne's apartment building is designed in partnership with Bartlett School of Architecture, University of Bath, and more. It is located in the protected area of the monument - a mill of the early 19th century and takes this neighborhood into account in its appearance. The jury also noted the extraordinary "detail" and sensuality of the project.

However, the most interesting thing in it is the widespread use of cork, including its array, for the supporting structure. Cork blocks are made from waste from the production of wine corks, etc. The project also uses a limited amount of composite wood material. The floors are covered with oak planks. The goal of the architects was to create a CO2-neutral project - during construction and operation, as well as assuming complete recycling at the end of its life.

Reconstruction of London Bridge Station

London

Architects: Grimshaw

86 300 m2

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1/5 Reconstruction of London Bridge Station Photo © Network Rail
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2/5 Reconstruction of London Bridge Station Photo © Paul Raftery
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3/5 Reconstruction of London Bridge Station Photo © Paul Raftery
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4/5 Reconstruction of London Bridge Station Photo © Paul Raftery
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5/5 Reconstruction of London Bridge Station Photo © Paul Raftery

The project is a radical redevelopment of one of the busiest train stations in the British capital at the foot of The Shard skyscraper by Renzo Piano. Londoners received light and spacious halls and passages instead of the old, dark and uncomfortable ones: the new areas are designed not only for the current, but also for the future passenger traffic. Despite the scale of the project, it was implemented in stages without closing the station.

Macallan Whiskey Distillery with Visitor Center

Morey County, Scotland

Architects: Rogers Stirk Harbor + Partners

20,872 m2

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1/9 Macallan Whiskey Distillery Photo © Joas Souza
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2/9 Macallan Whiskey Distillery Photo © Joas Souza
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3/9 Macallan Whiskey Distillery Photo © Mark Power
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4/9 Macallan Whiskey Distillery Photo © Joas Souza
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5/9 Macallan Whiskey Distillery Photo © Joas Souza
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6/9 Macallan Whiskey Distillery Photo © Joas Souza
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7/9 Macallan Whiskey Distillery Photo © Joas Souza
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8/9 Macallan Whiskey Distillery Photo © Joas Souza
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9/9 Macallan Whiskey Distillery Photo © Joas Souza

The green undulating roof echoes the silhouette of the surrounding hills and helps the new building blend in with the landscape. At the same time, it is connected with the "ceremonial road" located next to the 18th century manor house. The interior is dominated by double-curved mesh-type timber floors. The glazing of the facade visually connects the building with the Spey River, the proximity of which initially determined the location for the distillery: the production of Macallan whiskey began there in 1824.

Opera House at the Neville Holt Estate

County of Leicestershire

Architects: Witherford Watson Mann

816 m2

The theater hall for 400 spectators for the Nevill Holt Opera festival is built into the building of the stables of the 17th century. The new components do not touch the historic walls.

The theater does not have a foyer, its role is played by the estate garden. The materials used are concrete with traces of wooden formwork, dark stained wood, sandblasted larch wood that blends well with the local stone of the stables, limestone ("slate") from Colliweston.

The Weston Visitor Center and Gallery at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

West Bretton near Wakefield

Architects: Feilden Fowles

673 m2

Yorkshire Sculpture Park was established in 1977 on the grounds of the Bretton Hall estate. Since then, several indoor spaces have appeared there, all of them, at the request of the customer, are carefully integrated into the landscape. This is also true for The Weston. The main facade is a concrete wall 50 meters long with a single opening - the entrance. It reminds of the quarry that existed here, including a composition that includes local aggregates, and protects the interior from the noise of the highway. From the west, the gallery, on the other hand, turns into a light structure of glass and wood.