RIBA 2021 Awards
27 October 2021
1
Our heartfelt congratulations to the winners of the RIBA 2021 awards and the winner of the coveted RIBA Stirling Prize.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) 2021 Awards.
Some of the winners below:
At the beginning of September, RIBA announced the 54 winners of the 2021 RIBA National Awards for architecture. The awards, which have been presented since 1966, recognise the UK’s best new buildings. The awards also provide an insight into the UK’s design and economic trends.
The key trends identified by RIBA included:
- Sensitive restoration and adaptation of existing
- Investment in arts and culture and
- State-of-the-art higher education facilities and schools
Stressing the importance of architecture looking ahead, RIBA commented that as we design for a low carbon future, we must start by exploring the retention and reuse of existing buildings. And, when a new building is essential, we need to ensure that it will last and will be able to serve the future. Therefore, new buildings need to be both flexible and reusable.
RIBA Stirling Prize
A few days later the six contenders for the RIBA Stirling Prize were announced. The RIBA Stirling Prize now in its 25th year, is the highest accolade in architecture. The six buildings shortlisted were:
The winner of the 25th RIBA Stirling Prize was awarded to Kingston University London – Town House, designed by Grafton Architects.
As its name suggests: Town – refers ot the building’s civic dimension, and House – reflects a sense of home and belonging.
Speaking on behalf of the 2021 RIBA Stirling Prize jury, Lord Norman Foster, commented: “Kingston University Town House is a theatre for life – a warehouse of ideas. It seamlessly brings together student and town communities, creating a progressive new model for higher education, well deserving of international acclaim and attention.
In this highly original work of architecture, quiet reading, loud performance, research and learning, can delightfully co-exist. That is no mean feat. Education must be our future – and this must be the future of education.”
