Weston Library and Blavatnik School of Government miss out on Stirling Prize 2016

TWO of Oxford’s newest and most eye-catching buildings were beaten to a prestigious architectural prize last night by a renovated London industrial building. 

Judges for the RIBA Stirling Prize chose Newport Street Gallery, the new home of Damien Hirst’s private art collection, as the winner of the Sterling Prize, with both Oxford University’s Weston Library and the Blavatnik School of Government losing out. 

The winning project was designed by Caruso St John Architects, who were presented with the award during a ceremony yesterday in the capital.

Work on the Newport Street Gallery, in south London, involved the conversion of almost an entire street of three listed Victorian industrial buildings into a free public gallery.

A statement from the judges said: “This highly accomplished and expertly detailed art gallery is a bold and confident contribution to the best of UK architecture.

"Caruso St John’s approach to conservation is irreverent yet sensitive and achieves a clever solution that expresses a poetic juxtaposition of old and new.”

The Weston Library, in Broad Street, and the Blavatnik, in Walton Street, were both opened by the university last year.

The former involved extensive work to overhaul what was previously the New Bodleian Library.

Both were among six buildings shortlisted from across the UK for the Stirling Prize. 

ALL FINALISTS:

Newport Street Gallery, London, by Caruso St John Architects (WINNER)

"Newport Street Gallery in Vauxhall has involved the conversion of an extraordinary terrace of listed industrial buildings, that were formerly theatre carpentry and scenery painting workshops. The gallery forms the whole length of the street, with the three listed Victorian buildings flanked at either end by new buildings. The ground and upper floors within the five buildings are continuous, allowing them to be used flexibly in many combinations, to accommodate both large and small exhibitions. There are three large galleries on each of the two floors, stretching in a line from one end of the building to the other."

Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford, by Herzog & de Meuron

"The Blavatnik School of Government seeks to improve, inform and support better public policy and government in every country of the world. The new home of the school of government is prominently located between Woodstock Road and Walton Street, with Somerville College to the south and Green Templeton College to the north. The building has been designed as a precise geometric form which allows its important historic neighbours to maintain and improve their presence along Walton Street, whilst also opening up generous and inviting access into the new Radcliffe Observatory Quarter."

Weston Library, Oxford, by WilkinsonEyre

"The brief for this historic and Grade II listed Giles Gilbert Scott building was, literally and metaphorically, to open the doors of the library to the public to enable them to embrace knowledge. This was combined with the technically challenging requirements of protecting the precious and very rare documents stored within the archive and ensuring their preservation for future generations."

City of Glasgow College riverside campus, by Michael Laird Architects & Reiach and Hall Architects

"Located at the edge of a major crossing of the River Clyde, the site marks a gateway in the city and projects the college’s importance as a civic institution as well as creating a new landmark. New buildings are organised around two civic spaces - a cloistered garden and a grand hall - which encourage students to mix and realise opportunities for learning across disciplines."

Inside Outside House, Forest of Dean, by Loyn & Co Architects

"Inside Outside House is located on a fabulous sloping plot in the Forest of Dean running beside Offa’s Dyke, with long views to the Wye Valley and Severn Estuary. The design exploits the site potential to the full with a discrete design that beds into the site literally and metaphorically, finely balancing respect to context with confident architectural expression."

Trafalgar Place, London, by dRMM Architects

"Trafalgar Place is the flagship housing project delivered as part of Lendlease’s regeneration of Elephant and Castle. Comprising 235 high-quality homes, including 25 per cent affordable housing, integrated within a vibrant landscape and mature trees, the project transforms the built environment whilst referencing the historic fabric of the neighbourhood.​"