Panel proves huge draw at RIBA Awards event
More than 100 people from architectural practices including members of the AJ 100 and past and present RIBA Award winners attended an evening organised by the Architects’ Journal (AJ) and sponsored by Sapa Building System, to showcase the very best in British architecture.
Held at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) on Tuesday 17 July, the specially invited audience filled the Jarvis Memorial Hall to listen to an esteemed panel discuss and debate the latest crop of RIBA Award winners.
Providing an interesting critique of the winning buildings by type and exploring this year's trends and highlights were FT architecture and design critic Edwin Heathcote, RIBA Judge and RIBA Stirling Prize 2008 winner Alison Brooks, University of Westminster's Professor of Architecture and member of the RIBA Awards Group Murray Fraser, editorial director of The AJ and chairman on DC CABE Paul Finch and Rory Olcayto, The AJ’s deputy editor. The debate was concluded by eminent architectural historian Joseph Rykwert.
Categories discussed included Campus, Health, Houses, Housing, Leisure, Schools, Workplaces, Public Realm and to some degree all were set against the unavoidable context of 'the current economic climate' and its impact on architecture today.
Jon Palethorpe, commercial director at Sapa Building System, explains: ‘With this in mind perhaps it’s unsurprising that in most categories, there were fewer winners compared to last year, Healthcare and School project were noticeably diminished and Housing projects were almost too difficult to define as such.
‘Although hard to identify any clear trends across the categories, there seemed to be an examining of the relationship between old and new, particularly with regard to building materials. However, the diversity of projects, types and styles was striking, especially with the now Stirling Prize shortlisted and controversial Rothschild Bank/OMA building in the mix.
‘It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and we were delighted so many people wanted to attend which I’m sure was due to the hugely knowledgeable and respected panel that was assembled to critique the RIBA Award winners.’
Sapa Building System and The AJ also undertook a survey of the audience using iPads which asked questions about the state of the market, trends in facade design and the architectural environment. From the 60 people that filled out the survey on the night, one lucky winner will be picked at random to receive an iPad.
ENDS
Photo caption: Jon Palethorpe, commercial director at Sapa Building System, talks to a guest at British Architecture Now
For further media information please contact Rachel Meagher or Bethan Simkins at Target PR on 01242 633100, or email sapabuildingsystem@targetgroup.co.uk
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