Founded in 1996 and named after British architect and Pritzker Prize winner, Sir James Stirling (1926-1992), the annual Stirling prize is presented to the architect whose building is considered to be (as RIBA’s website states) “the most significant for the evolution of architecture in the past year”. The winning architect not only gains professional praise and distinction, but £20,000 prize money as well.
Who are RIBA?
The Royal British Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architectural professionals in the UK, equivalent to the American Institute of Architects (AIA), in the U.S. RIBA runs a multitude of annual award schemes, and these culminate in the Stirling Prize, the most prestigious award in UK architecture.
How is the Winner of the Stirling Prize Decided?
To be considered for the Stirling Prize you must have first won one of RIBA’s many national awards. Out of the national winners, a shortlist of six buildings is complied. To be shortlisted for a Stirling Prize is in itself a great honor, one that will bring the building, and its architect, great prestige.
A jury made up of both architectural experts and lay people then visit the six chosen buildings in September, before reconvening on the night of the award event to decide upon a winner. The award is announced on a televised prize ceremony each year in mid-October.
Previous Winners of the Stirling Prize
As the most prestigious prize for UK architecture, it is unsurprising that there is a distinguished list of previous winners, including some of the most famous names in British architecture:
- 1996: Stephen Hodder- Centenary Building, University of Salford, UK.
- 1997: Michael Wilford- Music School, Stuttgart, Germany.
- 1998: Fosters and Partners- American Air Museum, Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK.
- 1999: Future Systems- Lord’s Media Centre, London, UK.
- 2000: Alsop & Störmer- Peckham Library, London, UK.
- 2001: Wilkinson Eyre- Magna Centre, Rotherham, UK.
- 2002: Wilkinson Eyre & Gifford- Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Gateshead, UK.
- 2003: Herzog & de Meuron- Lapan, Deptford, London, UK.
- 2004: Foster and Partners- 30 St Mary Axe, London, UK.
- 2005: EMBT & RMJM- Scottish Parliament building, Edinburgh, UK.
- 2006: Richard Rogers Partnership- Barajas Airport Terminal 4, Madrid, Spain.
- 2007: David Chipperfield Architects- Museum of Modern Literature, Marbach, Germany.
- 2008 :Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios & Alison Brooks Architects & Maccreanor Lavington- Accordia housing development, Cambridge, UK.
The Stirling Prize 2009
For over a decade, RIBA’s highest award has highlighted the best of British architecture and the tradition continues on 17th October as the 2009 RIBA Stirling Prize winner is announced.
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