It's that time of year again - when the Culture Show produce the RIBA Stirling Prize. Once again this was very entertaining and they covered two other awards the Stephen Lawrence Award for projects under £1million and the Lubetkin Prize for best international building outside the EU.
I once again focused on the main award and made some notes about each one including name of architect and a brief thought about the project:
Following on from my notes from last year it is clear that these buildings nod a wink to their heritage - that of post-war modernism. These buildings clearly show that modernism has finally grown up.
Computer aided design has liberated architecture from gravity and our knowledge and understanding of materials and the impact we make on the environment are all clearly visible. Architecture now expresses its relationship with the natural world - the bling has gone. We are quieter and hark back to modernist principles. These buildings are economical, efficient, sustainable, adaptive and really think about the user - they are a triumph of use over form - but, to me, they are beautiful.
Images of the six finalists:
 |
| An Gaelaras, Derry. Photo: Dennis Gilbert www.worldbuildingdirectory.com |
 |
| Evelyn Grace Academy, Brixton. Photo: Hufton Crow www.architecture.com |
 |
| RSC Theatre, Stratford on Avon. Photo: Andy Marshall www.andymarshall.co.uk |
 |
| Olympic Velodrome, London. Photo: Handout/Getty www.guardian.co.uk |
 |
| The Angel Building, Islington. Photo: Peter Cook www.architectsjournal.co.uk |
 |
| Museum Folkwang, Essen. www.museum-folkwang.de |
I am really beginning to feel and understand my modernist roots and can see why it is so appealing to me.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
