THE Stirling Prize is named after one of the UK’s most famous and influential architects – who honed his craft studying at the University of Liverpool’s School of Architecture.

James Stirling was born in Glasgow and came to Merseyside after active service in World War II, studying here between 1945 and 1950.

Professor Rob Kronenburg from the university said: “He developed his own style of architecture, which was really aimed at getting people involved in, and enjoying, the building. His work was not pompous or posh, but more colourful, enjoyable, almost playful architecture.”

His most well-known building is the Neue Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart, Germany, and he is also known for the extention to the Tate Gallery in London.

Locally, a housing project in Runcorn by Stirling was demolished in 1990 when it fell out of fashion. His only remaining work in the city is the refurbishment of Tate Liverpool.

Stirling was a recipient of RIBA’s gold medal – one of six gold medalists to come from Liverpool University’s school of architecture, thought to be more than any other school.

Coincidentally, one of those six is Jim Eyre, partner and director of Wilkinson Eyre, who designed the Liverpool Echo Arena – now successfully linked to the rest of the city by Liverpool One.

James Stirling died in 1992.

The Stirling Prize was named after him in 1996.

There are still links to Stirling at the architecture school. His practice partner Michael Wilsford is an external examiner there, and a team recently built a scale model of the community centre he designed as part of his final university thesis.

He was also among the alumni featured in a book and travelling exhibition on the university’s architecture school, The World in One School, specially devised for Capital of Culture year.