Liverpool One misses out on top award

Oct 19 2009 Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL One missed out on being named the best British building of the year and taking home the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize on Saturday night.

The entry, by the Liverpool office of national practice BDP, was unique as it was thought to be the only time a city masterplan has made the shortlist, which this year was diverse and included a winery, health centre, office block and museum.

The winner was Maggie’s Centre cancer care clinic in London, by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.

Richard Rogers is one of the most internationally recognised figures in architecture and has won the Stirling Prize once before.

The prize is open to members of the Royal Institute of British Architects or firms in the EU whose head office is in the UK.

Liverpool One was up against Maggie’s Centre and the Bodegas Protos winery in Spain, also by Rogers.

The other shortlisted buildings were office block 5, Aldermanbury Square by Eric Parry Architects, Kentish Town Health Centre, designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, and the Fuglsang Kunstmuseum in Denmark, by Tony Fretton Architects.

Judges visited each site before making their decision ahead of the ceremony on Saturday night.

Hopes were high among BDP and Liverpool One developer Grosvenor, as the nomination tied in with the 10th anniversary of the inception of the massive regeneration project.

BDP oversaw more than 20 other architectural practices as the different areas of Liverpool one took shape.

RIBA president Ruth Reed said: “The shortlist for this year’s Prize was of an exceptionally high standard, and I would like to congratulate each of the shortlisted entries”.

Rod Holmes, of Grosvenor, was named joint Client of the Year in a special prize which was shared with all shortlisted entries.