RIBA Sterling Prize 2010



The RIBA Stirling Prize is given to the architects of the building which has made the “greatest contribution to British architecture in the past year" and shown an “excellence in architecture”. It has been founded in 1996 to recognise the British architect James Stirling, and this prize giving ceremony takes place annually. This prize is now thought of to be the most highly acclaimed architecture honour in the UK. Six short-listed buildings are chosen from a longer-list of structures that have received a RIBA Award for other “minor“ achievements. This year the ceremony was shown live on BBC 2 and a small presentation on each short-listed building was given before the winner was announced.

The Six Short-Listed Buildings were: -
Christ’s College School, Guilford, DSDHA

Clapham Manor Primary School, London, dRMM.

Bateman’s Row, London, Theis & Khan Architects.

MAXXI, Rome, Zaha Hadid Architects.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Rick Mather Architects.

Neues Museum, Berlin, David Chipperfield Architects.

　

On the 2^nd October 2010 at the Roundhouse in Camden, North London, Kevin McCloud announced to the architecture world that Zaha Hadid’s MAXXI in Rome had won the RIBA Sterling Prize.  

As a structure I think it is very successful. It really does take the thinking behind any architectural design to the next level. How Hadid uses so many different ideas and influences to gain the best from an art museum is incredible. However I don’t feel her overhanging structure is as successful as it could be. It seems to “stick out” of the building and spoil the fluidity of the overall structure shape. On the positive though the way MAXXI doesn’t blend into its surrounding is an achievement in itself. Art should be bold and striking and so should an art gallery. Zaha Hadid’s MAXXI is a worthy winner of this prestigious accolade.