Royal Institute of British Architecture, Portland Place, 15 October 2015.
‘Every one of the six shortlisted buildings illustrates why great architecture is so valuable – it has the power to delight, inspire and comfort us at all stages of our lives. The shortlisted projects are each surprising new additions to urban locations, but their stand-out common quality is their exceptionally executed, crafted detail. Every detail on every building, both internally and externally, is well-executed. Not only are these the best new housing projects, school, university, cultural and health buildings in the country today, they are game-changers that other architects, clients and local authorities should aspire to.’
– RIBA President Stephen Hodder, MBE
‘Given the public opprobrium being heaped on architects for their ivory tower ways and role as supine handmaidens of toxic gentrification, you do have to wonder what goes on in the mink-lined bunker of Portland Place these days. Though the Stirling shortlist features social housing, two educational projects, a Maggie’s Centre and regional culture, the obvious gnat in the yogurt is Neo Bankside, its cross-gartered silos of stratospherically priced non-dom accommodation depressingly emblematic of how London is turning into a coarser version of Paris (unaffordable core, atomised banlieues).’
– Catherine Slessor, The Architects’ Journal
‘Perfectly embodies London’s out-of-control property market, distorted by a global oligarchy who use international property hotspots to bank and grow their savings. NEO Bankside, which deploys decorative structure as a form of brand recognition for investors – “you too can have your own Richard Rogers” – suggests the firm’s socialist roots have long since been ploughed over. It’s hardly news: the closer you are to real power – property magnates, banking elites, presidents and prime ministers – the greater the risk of being turned inside out. Rogers’ gilded portfolio is surely proof of that.’
– Rory Olcayto, editor, The Architects’ Journal
‘It is worth noting that four of the six sites used for off-site provision of social housing were council-owned sites sold to property-developers Native Land specifically for the purpose. One of these used to site a council-run Children’s home and another a council-run day nursery, neither of which are being reprovided. In its planning report for demolition of the day nursery, the council justified its decision on the basis of a “review of other nursery services” in which “it was found that the private and voluntary sectors also provide these services in the area.” As a result, the council declared that “there were sufficient places without the running of the nursery” and that “the nursery was no longer required and therefore available for disposal”.’
– 35% Campaign
‘The project’s biggest challenge was to compose a high-density residential building and yet create a project with an appropriate scale and humanity; to ultimately create clarity from the complexity of what constitutes building in London. The project demonstrates the importance of what the private realm can offer the public realm. It is not only about space-making, but about what buildings can contribute.’
– Graham Stirk, senior partner, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
‘To be shortlisted for this highly respected award is a great honour for our joint venture. It is great to see the hard work of our team recognised via this nomination. The coveted Stirling Prize is an endorsement of the highest standards of architecture, something we always aspire to deliver in our development projects.’
– Alasdair Nicholls, Chief Executive of Native Land
BLOCK A: 50 Holland Street, SE1
Flat 201
Proprietor: Odysseus Property Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,485,000
Flat 202
Proprietor: Montage Holdings Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,105,000
Flat 203
Proprietor: Sheng Xian Ming Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,620,000
Flat 205
Proprietor: Games International Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £820,000
Flat 301
Proprietor: Eloa Development Inc.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,240,000
Flat 302
Proprietor: Ulysses Property Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,050,000
Flat 601
Proprietor: Sirius Operations Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price, £3,300,000
Flat 603
Proprietor: Kubno Corporations Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,150,000
Flat 703,
Proprietor: Assetwise UK Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,300,000
Flat 801,
Proprietor: Windfall Asia Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £4,504,500
Flat 901,
Proprietor: LCD Property Management Pte. Ltd
Country: Singapore
Price: £4,657,150
BLOCK B: 60 Holland Street, SE1
Flat 101,
Proprietor: Rialcom Holding Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,350,000
Flat 301
Proprietor: Ascent Spirit Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,500,000
Flat 402,
Proprietor: Starking Holdings Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,799,000
Flat 503
Proprietor: Stratos International Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £646,800
Flat 701,
Proprietor: Cadagi Investments Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,700,000
Flat 903,
Proprietor: Goderich Holdings Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £675,000
Flat 1001,
Proprietor: William Widjaja Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £3,280,000
Flat 1203
Proprietor: Datini United Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £750,000
Flat 1205
Proprietor: B. V. Blauwe Dak
Country: Netherlands
Price: £2,500,000
Flat 1301
Proprietor: Balholm Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £3,780,000
Flat 1302
Proprietor: Mobi Investments Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £628,000
Flat 1303
Proprietor: Earsdon Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £2,280,000
BLOCK C: 70 Holland Street, SE1
Flat: 103
Proprietor: Etno Investments Inc.
Country: Panama
Price: £950,000
Flat: 202
Proprietor: Games Gloval Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £961,000
Flat: 203
Proprietor: Peace Tower Holdings Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £950,000
Flat: 301
Proprietor: Romie Assets Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,775,000
Flat: 302
Proprietor: RhapsodyTwo Investment Pte. Ltd.
Country: Singapore
Price: £1,032,000
Flat: 305
Proprietor: Noble Team Investments Ltd.
Country: Hong Kong
Price: £1,475,000
Flat 401
Proprietor: Carmona Equities Corp.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,775,000
Flat: 501
Proprietor: Neo London Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,770,000
Flat 702
Proprietor: Easingwold Holdings Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,223,000
Flat: 703
Proprietor: Hopewell International Enterprises Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,166,000
Flat 705
Proprietor: Nioka Holdings Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,675,000
Flat 802
Proprietor: Windfall Asia Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,205,750
Flat 803
Proprietor: Windfall Asia Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,205,750
Flat 902
Proprietor: Lemon Thyme Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,150,000
Flat 905
Proprietor: Jalex International Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,702,000
Flat 1002
Proprietor: Tabala Holdings Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £1,310,000
Flat 1103
Proprietor: DML London Pte. Ltd.
Country: Singapore
Price: £1,316,000
Flat 1105
Proprietor: DML London Pte. Ltd.
Country: Singapore
Price: £1,819,000
Flat: 1202
Proprietor: NBS Investments Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: £770,000
Flat 1402
Proprietor: RhapsodyOne Investments Pte. Ltd.
Country: Singapore
Price: £818,000
Flat 1603
Proprietor: Oleander Ltd.
Country: Malta
Price: £4,150,000
BLOCK D: 5 Sumner Street, SE1
Flat 406
Proprietor: Brave Elite Global Ltd.
Country: British Virgin Islands
Price: Unknown
– Private Eye
‘The Royal Institute of British Architects champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. We provide the standards, training, support and recognition that put our members at the peak of their profession. With government, we work to improve the design quality of public buildings, new homes and new communities.’
– RIBA
‘Whether ASH’s protest will have an effect on the Stirling Prize, the RIBA, or architecture as a whole remains to be seen. But for the first time in Stirling Prize history, those inside Portland Place on Thursday night will have to share the spotlight – and control over the future of British architecture – with those standing outside.’
– Rory Stott, ArchDaily
– Oliver Wainwright of The Guardian, on the BBC News coverage of the Stirling Prize
Further press coverage of the ASH protest
http://www.housingworkers.org.uk/readnews.html?con_id=260
Architects for Social Housing
A Communist in Hong Kong 