The Stirling Prize is awarded annually to a building that is considered the most significant contribution to British architecture. This year, six projects were included in the list of finalists: Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbor + Partners, Nevill Holt Operaste by Witherford Watson Mann Architects, Cork House by Matthew Barnett Howland with Dida Milne and Oliver Wilton, London Station Bridge by Grimshaw, residential complex Goldsmith Street by Mikhail Riches and Katy Hawley, Weston complex by Feilden Fowles Architects.
Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbor + Partners
The new Macallan factory will be built on the territory of the estate, where single malt whiskey has been produced since 1824. The building sunk into the landscape is a reference to ancient Scottish earthen fortifications. Under the undulating roof, planted with wildflowers, four separate production workshops hid. Under the higher fifth "hill" is the central entrance.
Nevill Holt Opera by Witherford Watson Mann Architects
The building of Nevill Holt Opera is completely hidden inside the stable yard. There is no formal lobby in the opera house, this role is played by the fenced gardens, from where the doors lead directly into the hall. Interior solutions contribute to the creation of a chamber environment. The perimeter of the hall is finished with concrete with a textured finish to match the texture of wood. Cross-shaped bronze columns support the first floor.
Cork House by Matthew Barnett Howland with Dida Milne and Oliver Wilton
Cork House is designed with great attention to detail and the environment. The structure, including the walls and roof, is made entirely of cork material. At the same time, the building is characterized by exceptionally low carbon emissions during its entire service life. Cork blocks were made from recycled materials, in addition, all components of the house can be reused or recycled.
Reconstruction of London Bridge station by Grimshaw
After reconstruction, the station increased its capacity by two-thirds and is now able to accommodate more than 90 million passengers per hour. The architects tried to adapt the building of 1836 to new needs, preserving the historical value. The original brick arches of the Victorian era were used when arranging the new hall. Modern interventions were kept to a minimum, and the new arches were made of concrete to emphasize the difference between the old and the new.
Goldsmith Street residential complex by Mikhail Riches and Katya Houla
The complex is located in a typical English provincial city of Norwich, but it is a modern European architecture. Goldsmith Street is a series of seven blocks arranged in four lines. The architects convinced the designers to agree to only a 14-meter distance between the blocks. The careful design of the windows allowed to preserve privacy, and the asymmetrical shape of the roof ensured the entry of a sufficient amount of daylight. The result was a very dense building, but without excessive crowding.
Weston complex by Feilden Fowles Architects
The Weston complex is located on the territory of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, on the site of a former sand pit. The building houses a visitor center and exhibition spaces. On the one hand, the monolithic 50-meter Weston wall seems to be half buried in the landscape. On the opposite side, the building is a glazed wooden frame pavilion with a panoramic view of the park.
Note that the winner of the 2019 Stirling Prize will be announced at the ceremony on October 8. Let us remind in 2018, the award was given to the headquarters of Bloomberg in London on the project of the Foster + Partners office.