McAslan, AHMM and BDP top shortlist for BD’s Architect of the Year Awards

The finalists for BD’s Architect of the Year Awards 2008 have been announced, with Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, BDP and John McAslan & Partners all gaining four nominations.

Maccreanor Lavington and Shedkm are nominated in two of the 14 categories, both competing with Allford Hall Monaghan Morris for Private Housing Architect of the Year (over 14 units).

The winners will be announced on October 30 at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

BD’s Architect of the Year Awards 2008 shortlist

Affordable Housing Architect of the Year

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

Jestico & Whiles

Levitt Bernstein Associates

Maccreanor Lavington

Stock Woolstencroft

Private Housing Architect of the Year (over 14 units)

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

Broadway Malyan

Maccreanor Lavington

Richard Murphy Architects

Shedkm

Private Housing Architect of the Year (one to 14 units)

Alison Brooks Architects

Julian Cowie Architects

Shedkm

Simon Conder Associates

Education Architect of the Year

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

DSDHA

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

John McAslan & Partners

Penoyre & Prasad

Wright & Wright Architects

Healthcare Architect of the Year

BDP

Buschow Henley

David Morley Architects

Toh Shimazaki Architecture

Interiors Architect of the Year

Adjaye Associates

BDP

Bennett Interior

David Archer Architects

Pringle Brandon

Masterplanning Architect of the Year

BDP

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

John McAslan & Partners

Stephen Taylor Architects

Office Architect of the Year

Atkins

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

Make

Shedkm

Public Buildings Architect of the Year

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

Denton Corker Marshall

Gareth Hoskins Architects

Keith Williams Architects

Marks Barfield Architects

Retail Architect of the Year

3DReid

Adjaye Associates

BDP

Foreign Office Architects

John McAslan & Partners

Sport & Leisure Architect of the Year

David Morley Architects

Dyer

EPR Architects

HOK Sport Architecture

Hopkins Architects

Transport Architect of the Year

3DReid

Grimshaw

John McAslan & Partners

Pascall & Watson Architects

Zaha Hadid Architects

Accordia wins the Stirling Prize

Accordia in Cambridge by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Alison Brooks Architects and Maccreanor Lavington has won the 2008 Stirling Prize.

The judges commented: “This is high density housing at its very best, demonstrating that volume house-builders can deliver high quality architecture – and that as a result they can improve their own bottom line.



"The whole scheme is about relationships: between architect and developer/contractor/client; between three very different firms of architects – Feilden Clegg Bradley, Maccreanor Lavington and Alison Brooks Architects; and between private and public external spaces, providing a new model for outside-inside life with interior rooftop spaces, internal courtyards and large semi-public community gardens.”

Peter Clegg, senior partner with Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects, told BD: “I predicted all of the other winners but I couldn’t have predicted this one. What we are doing is changing the mould of housing.”



When Accordia was shortlisted, BD Buildings Editor Ellis Woodman said: “By rights, Accordia should have been on last year’s shortlist. However, when the RIBA jury visited the scheme they found that they couldn’t get access to any of the houses so decided that it couldn’t be put forward for an award. The Stirling hasn’t had a great record of recognising quality housing developments. After BedZed, Accordia is only the second housing scheme to be shortlisted in the prize’s history. However, it would make a very worthy winner.

“In a period when the housing sector has become increasingly focussed on the construction of inner-city apartments, Accordia addresses the urgent need to build quality family homes at large scale and a sustainable density.”



The judges’ choice of Accordia will certainly be of relief to the bookmakers. Going into the final day, the Cambridge housing scheme was sixth with odds of 5/1 at William Hill.

RIBA special awards

Also announced on Saturday night were the RIBA special awards:

Manser Medal for the best one-off house or housing scheme: Oxley Woods

Stephen Lawrence Prize for the best example of a building with a construction budget of less than £1 million: The Sackler Crossing in Kew by John Pawson Architects

RIBA CABE Public Space Award which celebrates publicly accessible external space: The Old Market Square, Nottingham by Gustafson Porter

Crown Estate Conservation Award, for the best work of conservation which demonstrates successful restoration or adaptation of an architecturally significant building: St. Pancras International by Alastair Lansley (for Union Railways)

RIBA Sustainability Award: The Manchester Civil Justice Centre, Manchester by Denton Corker Marshall

Sorrell Foundation Schools Award: Westminster Academy at the Naim Dangoor Centre by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris.

The Oval Tower, Another Landmark For Dubai

The Oval Tower is the latest piece of architectural whimsy to come out of Dubai. As you might guess, it is shaped like an oval. The tower in the Business Bay area will be home to 19 floors of office space and a leisure deck with a gymnasium with a sauna, shower and lockers.



The building as two distinct parts, the tower and the podium. The podium of the tower will hold a dining area with a panoramic lift and staircase. There will be parking in both the podium and the basement for 651 cars.