13 June 2007
AIA/UK recognises excellence in design at awards gala
At the annual Gala, held at the Royal Society for the Arts on 5th April 2007, the American Institute of Architects/UK Chapter honoured excellence in the design of completed buildings by UK architects anywhere in the world, and by architects of any nationality in the UK, with three winners and four commendations.
Winners
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| Slide show→ |
Gianni Botsford Architects’ Light House in London was cited by jury chair Deborah Saunt of DSDHA for its outstanding achievement in providing “a sense of openness in a really constrained site. It should be taken seriously as it’s really testing something, and could serve as a model of backlands development for other potential uses.”
The Collection in Lincoln by Panter Hudspith was lauded as a “beautiful sculptural piece, different and really beautifully detailed. It is very cleverly sited: routes through the museum are set up around things experienced outside the museum.”
The jury considered Zaha Hadid Architects’ design for Maggie’s Centre in Fife “a brave commission that raises awareness of the psychological needs of cancer care as well as the clinical,” and recognised that “going there is something that takes you outside of your daily condition,” citing the “user-friendly village-like spaces inside.”
Commendations
Buschow Henley’s St John’s Therapy Centre in London was praised as a “positive example of bringing about good quality architecture for not much money. Its powerful street presence communicates positive messages about health to the wider public, including issues of access and visibility.”
About KPF’s Ruth Deech Building at St Anne’s College, Oxford, the jury commented, “There’s a place for quiet architecture; this is a large building that’s broken down and handled quite carefully on the site with subtle moves, beautifully detailed.”
de Rijke Marsh Morgan won an accolade for their Wansey Street Housing in London: “It’s playful and clever and serious at the same time very few people can pull that off. It deals with complex issues and does it rather well.”
John McAslan + Partners’ Lanvender Sure Start and Children’s Nursery for Southampton University was cited as a “simple solution, elegantly done, with a clear and consistent use of materials.”
Jury member Professor Robert Mull of London Metropolitan University, presenting the Noel Hill Student Travel Awards, commended both recipients for well defined projects. Aimee O’Carroll’s project to study public space in Japan was seen as a complement to her portfolio project of an extension to the Tate Modern, and Emily Penn’s portfolio demonstrated an impressive range of investigations which gave the jury confidence that she would benefit greatly from her travels to observe sustainability in China. Aimee is on her year out after completing her Part 1 and Emily is a second year student, both from Cambridge University.
The 2007 AIA/UK excellence in design awards jury was:
- Bob Allies, Allies and Morrison Architects
- Mary Bowman, Gustafson Porter
- Cécile Brisac, Brisac Gonzalez Architects
- Chris Carroll, ARUP Advanced Geometry Unit
- Robert Mull, Department of Architecture, London Metropolitan University
- Peter Murray, Wordsearch
- David Partridge, Argent
- Deborah Saunt, DSDHA
- Graham Stirk, Richard Rogers Partnership
Labels: awards
