The Architects’ Journal Architecture News & Buildings
They include Hopkins Architects’ revamp of a 1980s office block on the Broadgate campus at Liverpool Street and Henley Halebrown’s Hackney New Primary School and 333 Kingsland Road, which was named Design of the Year at the 2021 AJ Architecture Awards.
The list also includes Stirling Prize debuts for Mae Architects, whose Sands End Arts and Community Centre in Fulham is among the contenders, and Panter Hudpsith, which has made the final six with the 228-home Orchard Gardens scheme in Elephant and Castle.
The two buildings outside London to be shortlisted are Forth Valley College, Falkirk Campus, Scotland, by Reiach and Hall Architects and the new timber-framed library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, by Níall McLaughlin Architects. Both practices have had three previous nominations for the coveted accolade, which is now in its 26th year.
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In 2021 the prize was given to Grafton Architects’ Kingston University Town House, a six-storey, multipurpose higher education building in south-west London.
RIBA president Simon Allford said the six projects shortlisted for this year’s prize ‘give cause for optimism’ and offered innovative solutions in the face of the housing, energy and climate crises.
He said: ‘From major capital city regeneration programmes to new visions for higher education, they all share the ambition to deliver generous architecture fit for a low-carbon future.
‘Four of our shortlisted schemes provide new spaces to interact and learn. These formal and informal settings – schools, colleges and community centres – epitomise how to design for sustained community benefit. They are joined by ambitious new housing developments on compact and complex sites that set a benchmark for investment in high-quality, desirable urban homes.’
Allford added: ‘All six buildings are informed by close consultation and collaboration with clients, contractors and the community. The result: outstanding and welcoming architecture that lifts the spirit of all who engage with it.
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‘All six are also underpinned by their understanding of construction’s responsibility to mitigate and adapt to our climate crisis. From the re-use and upgrade of existing buildings to the conscious specification of low-carbon materials and technologies, to the thoughtful design of hybrid, flexible spaces – these schemes consider their environment and give generously to their community.’
He concluded: ‘In their architects’ attention to detail, and their clients’ determination and commitment, these six projects distinguish themselves and represent the best of UK architecture today. Together they demonstrate the power of exceptional architecture to enhance lives.’
The Stirling Prize finalists were chosen from the RIBA’s 29 national award winners.
The overall winner will be announced on Thursday 13 October 2022 at the RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London.
RIBA 2022 Stirling shortlist
• 100 Liverpool Street, London (by Hopkins Architects): a net zero development encompassing a dramatic renovation and extension of a 1980s office block to create a suite of offices and commercial and public spaces in the heart of London’s financial district.
• Forth Valley College – Falkirk Campus, Scotland (by Reiach and Hall Architects): a set of three cutting-edge higher-education facilities connected by courtyards and open learning spaces.
• Hackney New Primary School and 333 Kingsland Road, London (by Henley Halebrown): a striking red-brick complex that uniquely combines affordable housing with a new primary school for the growing east London community.
• Orchard Gardens, Elephant Park, London (by Panter Hudspith Architects): a playful cluster of buildings forming a new city block of 228 new homes and retail spaces wrapped around a communal garden – a major element of Elephant and Castle’s regeneration programme.
• Sands End Arts and Community Centre, London (by Mæ Architects): a welcoming, fully accessible single-storey building arranged around a disused lodge comprising flexible activity spaces and a community café.
• The New Library, Magdalene College, Cambridge (by Níall McLaughlin Architects): an exquisitely detailed timber-framed library and study space, designed to replace that previously gifted by Samuel Pepys and projected to survive for another 400 years.
I am dumbfounded by the choices put forward for the Stirling Prize 2022 – the designs are ok however not the standard that I would expect for a Stirling Prize. Is Architecture becoming staid and boring. The biggest disappointment for me is that 4 of the nominated buildings in London – I question the choice of RIBA judges whether they are too London centric in choice of Architect (5 of them are based in London) or location of buildings. The shortlist for the Stephen Lawrence prize is more interesting than the one made for this year’s Stirling prize. Question is Architecture going backwards and more risk averse in term of the design produced and there is not one nominee that focuses on carbon zero how the building can influence future buildings – RIBA needs to factor in climate change for any future Stirling prize nominees. My last question would be what would James Stirling himself think of this year’s nominees?
I think the London centric awards from a London centric RIBA illustrates the current state of our professional body. Maybe this is a reflection of an “the covid period” and hopefully RIBA will be able to see there is a whole country to celebrate and include going forwards, rather than just a central London “House of Architecture”