2002 Stirling Prize

by **Paul Clerkin** » Thu Sep 12, 2002 12:42 pm

Millennium Wing, National Gallery of Ireland, has made it into the final seven

by **bigjoe** » Thu Sep 12, 2002 2:56 pm

well deserved.

by **trace** » Thu Sep 12, 2002 5:17 pm

Yes, indeed. And Bucholz McEvoy's Fingal County Offices have been shortlisted for the RIBA Journal Sustainability Award, one of several special award categories that will be decided on the same night. http://www.ajplus.co.uk/riba2002/special_shortlist/

by **Paul Clerkin** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 10:15 am

The William D. Finlay Lecture is presented this year by Gordon Benson (Benson + Forsyth) on Tuesday 12 November (7pm). As architect of the Millennium Wing, he will discuss its antecedents, its design and construction. Tickets are on sale from 1 November in the Gallery Shop.

by **Paul Clerkin** » Mon Sep 23, 2002 2:12 pm

So any thoughts on the shortlist?

Poll: Which building should win the 2002 Stirling Prize?
http://www.archiseek.com/content/showthread.php?s=&postid=7900#post7900

by ew » Mon Sep 23, 2002 4:34 pm

There was a tiny picture of the Lloyd's Register of Shipping in yesterdays Times. It looks wonderful.
Are there any better pics online?

by **roskav** » Mon Sep 23, 2002 8:15 pm

Do you mean better as in more fantastic or better as in bigger? I haven't seen a pic like that in a while...

by **RSJ** » Tue Sep 24, 2002 8:49 am

You'll find the Lloyd's Register and all the others at:

http://www.ajplus.co.uk/riba2002

But remember: shiny buildings always look brilliant in photographs, particularly at dusk-time: the high-tech architect's favourite time of day for pictures. In reality they can let you down (though to be fair, Rogers' generally don't).

Let me put in a word for a non-shiny building on the shortlist: the Downland Gridshell by Edward Cullinan architects. Went there the other day and it is simply brilliant. Photos don't do it justice because it does not catch the light...

....there's a whole thesis to be written on how architectural styles catch on through their camera-friendliness or otherwise. Glossy architecture is much favoured by glossy magazine editors. Matt-finish architecture tends to get ignored.

by MG » Thu Sep 26, 2002 4:25 pm

I agree with RSJ, the Lloyd's Register of Shipping photographs extremely well but I also quite like the design. What is the Downland Gridshell used for?

by **RSJ** » Thu Sep 26, 2002 7:42 pm

Downland gridshell is a workshop and store for the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum near Chichester in Sussex - one of those places that rescues mostly medieval derelict timber-framed buildings from around southern England and re-erects them in reasonably authentic manner in open country.

They wanted a modern building for their workshops (where the rescued buildings are first test-assembled) and clear-span space. But they also wanted a link with timber craftsmanship. Hence the Gridshell solution, which is a neat way of reconciling modernity with history.

After all, they could have flung up a standard tin shed for this purpose, but elected not to.

by **Paul Clerkin** » Thu Sep 26, 2002 10:39 pm

Downland gridshell is very interesting looking, okay. What kind of an impact do you get on entering?

by **RSJ** » Fri Sep 27, 2002 12:00 pm

One of those buildings that's bigger than you expect on the inside. A bit like a hangar by Pier Luigi Nervi, a bit like being in some kind of upturned boat hull (same thing, really). Surprisingly delicate structure, very slender timber members, but no precious details - all absolutely functional. It creaks as it warms up and cools down in the sun.

I'd say its internal impact is a bit like those huge medieval tithe barns - except in this case there are no columns or roof beams or wall/roof junctions.

The wiggly shape - bit like a giant monkey-nut from the outside - provides lateral bracing for the structure.

Engineers are Buro Happold, and the gridshell structure goes back to their work years ago with Frei Otto. This is the sort of structural expertise and computer power more normally used by the likes of Norman Foster or Richard Rogers. All for a rural workshop...

by **RSJ** » Fri Sep 27, 2002 1:07 pm

the online poll run by the Architects' Journal shows (as at lunchtime today) Cullinan's Downland Gridshell moving into the popular lead at 31.18 per cent. Closest rival is Dublin's Millenium Wing of National Gall at 28 per cent.

Trailing the field is Rogers' Lloyd's Register at a surprisingly awful 1.63 per cent.

by MG » Fri Sep 27, 2002 1:13 pm

Here it is:

Gateshead Millennium Bridge - 35.33%
Downland Gridshell - 13.04%
Lloyd's Register of Shipping - 19.02%
Hampden Gurney School - 10.33%
Dance Base, Edinburgh - 8.70%
Ernsting Service Centre - 1.63%
Millennium Wing, National Gallery of Ireland - 11.96%

by **RSJ** » Fri Sep 27, 2002 1:56 pm

Isn't that a different poll?

by **Paul Clerkin** » Fri Sep 27, 2002 2:00 pm

That's the results from here, I think.

by **RSJ** » Fri Sep 27, 2002 3:33 pm

Ah yes, so it is. The AJ's poll will be almost all architects, so this will reflect the esteem in which Cullinan, very much an architect's architect, is held in the profession.

On the night, of course, it's down to the judges rather than poll findings. The judges are as usual a very urban lot, but you never know. This is one of the closer Stirling years, with no overwhelming favourite.

by **Papworth** » Fri Oct 11, 2002 9:18 am

Can't seem to find anything on the TV listings (for the 12th October) on this. Is it been covered as part of Channel 4s Art Show @ 18.35 tomorrow ?

by **Hugh** » Fri Oct 11, 2002 10:08 am

Stirling Prize takes place at the Baltic in Gateshead tomorrow night, Saturday October 12. But because of Channel 4's nervousness about live outside broadcast events (they're not used to them, the dears) it is not broadcast until 8pm on the evening of Sunday 13th, although it pretends to be live then.

This is why news of the Prize winner mysteriously tends to appear in the Sunday papers the morning before it allegedly takes place. All a bit silly, really.

by **Paul Clerkin** » Fri Oct 11, 2002 10:12 am

Okay.... so are you going Hugh?

by **Hugh** » Fri Oct 11, 2002 10:29 am

Um yes, I'll be there. Lurking.

by **Paul Clerkin** » Fri Oct 11, 2002 10:32 am

Damn I knew I should have got Archeire.com tshirts done

by **Luke Gardnier** » Fri Oct 11, 2002 12:34 pm

By all accounts the Gateshead Bridge is the firm favourite for the Sterling Architectural Ist prize although to me the bridge is really a marvelous civil engineering achievement / statement along with the likes of the London Eye.

by **Paul Clerkin** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 9:26 am

Did anyone watch the proigramme on C4 on saturday night? Charlie Luxton? the architecture world's Jamie Oliver... even has the hand mannerisms....

Well no major suprise in the Stirling... when you watched the programme there was no contest as far as i was concerned... the only real challenger was the 21st century barn....

the Dance centre in Edinburgh was a series of interiors or so it looked.... the NGI was described accurately as all entrance and restaurant.... the rogers building looked very reminiscent of their entry last year or the year before ..... and as for the office park in Germany, it just resembled an american college campus...

by **LOB** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 9:54 am

Presenter annoyed the hell out of me I have to admit
Wilkinson eyre were worthy winners

2002 Stirling Prize

Stirling Prize 2002

2002 Stirling Prize

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