Six Buildings Shortlisted For 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize

20 July 2017, 06:29 | Updated: 20 July 2017, 06:32

A block of flats with wicker balconies, a dockyard redevelopment, photography studio and a new college campus are among those in the running to be named the UK's best new building.

The shortlist for the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize features six buildings: Barrett's Grove in London, the British Museum World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre, Command of the Oceans at Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent, City of Glasgow College city campus, Hastings Pier in Sussex and Photography Studio for Juergen Teller in west London.

Last year it was won by Newport Street Gallery, a row of listed industrial buildings converted to house artist Damien Hirst's private collection.

RIBA president Jane Duncan said: "This year's shortlisted schemes show exceptionally creative, beautifully considered and carefully detailed buildings that have made every single penny count.

"Commissioned at the end of the recession, they are an accolade to a creative profession at the top of its game. Each of these outstanding projects has transformed their local area and delights those who are lucky enough to visit, live, study or work in them.''

The most prestigious prize in UK architecture is now in its 22nd year. Other previous winners include the Scottish Parliament, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, and Liverpool Everyman Theatre.

The 2017 winner will be announced in October.

Ms Duncan said: "The World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre is an extremely skilful partially-underground extension for the display, conservation and storage of the British Museum's incredible collections. Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners have overcome incredibly complex planning constraints to create a building that enhances the area and this much-loved institution.

"Command of the Oceans brings a bold and accessible new visitor experience to Chatham Historic Dockyard. A striking, black visitor entrance, exciting approach to conservation, and inventive raised route around the complex have given the dockyard a dramatic new lease of life.

"Hastings Pier has been driven by the passionate local community in response to the fire that destroyed their Victorian pier in 2010. This versatile and beautiful contemporary pier and visitors centre sits upon the repaired Victorian iron work of the original pier, and is kick-starting the town's renaissance.

"The other half of the shortlist share a common quality: intelligent responses to challenging urban sites. Through careful use of a tactile palette of materials including brick, timber and wicker, Barrett's Grove has injected an extraordinary small development of delightful, warm homes into an otherwise ordinary street in north London.

"The City of Glasgow College's new City Campus is an immensely confident contribution to the architecture of the city, and is testament to Scotland's commitment to invest in high-quality further education. Unique elements like street-front 'shops' for the college's trainee hairdressers and chefs to earn and learn add to the comprehensive facilities that raise the bar for higher education buildings.

"Despite its constrained and semi-industrial plot in west London, the Photography Studio for Juergen Teller is an oasis in which the architects and landscape designer Dan Pearson have created a seemingly modest yet sublime light-filled studio and garden. Every single detail created by this exceptionally talented architect is precise and highly considered.

"This year's shortlist typifies everything that is special about UK architecture: this is not just a collection of exceptionally well designed buildings but spaces and places of pure beauty, surprise and delight.''