Archinect - News

Criticism of the 2022 Stirling Prize adds another wrinkle ahead of next week's announcement

2022-10-05T17:06:00-04:00

The debate surrounding sustainability and the Stirling Prize is heating up again in the lead-up to RIBA’s October 13th announcement of the coveted annual award.

Just eight weeks after the Institute's new president Muyiwa Oki was swept into office on a platform of change, UK-based critic Kunle Barker took to the Architects’ Journal to answer some of the organization’s more vocal critics, including the group Architects’ Climate Action Network (or ACAN), who have derided the so-called “greenwashing” presented in certain shortlisted projects and, they say, promoted tacitly by RIBA’s decision to endorse them.

Orchard Gardens, another shortlist project that drew criticism. Image: Enrique Verdugo.

“ACAN is correct on all points. However, I’m not sure its criticism has been levelled at the right party,” he wrote, stating that “we have to remember that the Stirling Prize is ostensibly an architecture competition and not a sustainability one.”

“It is impractical and unrealistic to suddenly ex...

AJ, C.F. Møller may be getting new London headquarters after Piercy&Company proposes Telephone House demolition

2021-11-02T20:01:00-04:00

The proposals are for the redevelopment of the site to replace the poor quality, office use building that is set-back from the street behind a perimeter fence, with a high-quality building that will activate all three street frontages and provide multiple functions, including co-working, retail, roof terraces and central gallery atrium.

According to the Architects' Journal whose offices would be affected by the planned demolition along with the London studio of C.F. Møller Architects, the new Piercy&Co-designed building aims to address "the challenges of climate change by creating an ultra-low carbon building and placing sustainability at the heart of the project." The developer promised a 50% reduction in operational carbon emissions when compared to others currently under construction and said an adaptation scheme was explored for a year before being replaced by the plan for new construction.

Telephone House in the current situation (left) and the proposed new building (right). Image courtesy Telephone House public consultation.

"Decisions to replace buildings like this aren’t straightforward and shouldn’t be taken lightly," an architect's brief provided to AJ stated. "We think our proposals are the right move forward for Telephone House and will create an exceptional new workplace for a range of businesses — inc...

Gabriela Carrillo named 2017 Architect of the Year in Women in Architecture Awards + Rozana Montiel wins Moira Gemmill Prize

2017-03-03T19:06:00-05:00

The Architectural Review and the Architects' Journal celebrated more leading ladies in the 2017 Women in Architecture Awards today. They announced Gabriela Carrillo as Architect of the Year, while Rozana Montiel received the £10,000 Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture. Last month, Denise Scott Brown was honored with the Jane Drew Prize.

Previously awarded to architects like Jeanne Gang, Francine Houben, and Michál Cohen and Cindy Walters, Architect of the Year recognizes design excellence in a single built project completed in 2016. The Moira Gemmill Prize supports the continuing professional development of the recipient. Previous winners include Ambrosi Etchegaray co-founder Gabriela Etchegaray and Hannah Lawson of John McAslan + Partners.

Gabriela Carrillo, Taller de Arquitectura Mauricio Rocha + Gabriela Carrillo, Criminal Courts for Oral Trials, Pátzcuaro, Mexico.

Rozana Montiel, Rozana Montiel Estudio de Arquitectura, Tepoztlan House, Mexico.

Carrillo and Montiel were com...

UK architecture students seeking mental health care is on the rise, according to Architects' Journal survey

2016-07-29T13:57:00-04:00

Nearly 90% of the 447 respondents said they had had to work through the night at some point. Almost one-third said they have to do it regularly. Two-thirds of undergraduates said their debt at the end of their course would be £30,000 or above. Despite that, almost a third said they had been asked to work in practice for free... [One student respondent] said: “A culture of suffering for your art is promoted within education.”

Mecanoo’s Francine Houben named AJ Woman Architect of the Year 2014

2014-02-07T13:51:00-05:00

The Architects' Journal (UK) announced Francine Houben, creative director and founder of Dutch firm Mecanoo, as the recipient of the AJ Woman Architect of the Year 2014. The award honors design excellence and strong leadership among women in architecture.

Houben received the prestigious award in a ceremony at London's Langham Hotel on Feb. 7. Projects of Houben and Mecanoo include the high-profile Library of Birmingham, La Llotja de Lleida, and the Kaap Skil maritime and beachcombers museum.

Upon receiving the award, Houben said, "'I feel privileged to be a woman, to be a mother and to be an architect, which was not always an easy combination. It was also a privilege to design the Library of Birmingham, here in the UK. Libraries play an essential role in the emancipation of young women all over the world. I’m very proud to be able to design more projects with a ‘Dutch touch’ in the UK. I strongly believe that architecture is about teamwork, about being visionary and supportive at the ...