|
Accordia: "high-density housing at its very best" |
Accordia scoops RIBA Stirling Prize
Published: 13 October, 2008
The Cambridge housing project beat off strong competition to take one of the architectural industry's top awards
Accordia, the housing project in Cambridge designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS), Alison Brooks Architects and Maccreanor Lavington Architects, has won this year's RIBA Stirling Prize in association with The Architects' Journal.
The presentation of one of the UK's leading architectural award took place at a glittering award ceremony at the Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool, and was televised live on Channel 4.
Accordia saw off a strong shortlist of schemes comprising Allford Hall Monaghan Morris' Westminster Academy in London; Grimshaw/Arcadis Architecten's Bijlmer Station in Amsterdam; Allies and Morrison's Royal Festival Hall refurbishment; Manchester Civil Justice Centre by Denton Corker Marshall; and Zaha Hadid's Nordpark Cable Railway in Austria.
The judges said of Accordia: “This is high-density housing at its very best, demonstrating that volume housebuilders can deliver high-quality architecture – and that as a result they can improve their own bottom line.
“The whole scheme is about relationships: between architect and developer/contractor/client; between three very different firms of architects; and between private and public external spaces, providing a new model for outside-inside life with interior rooftop spaces, internal courtyards and large semi-public community gardens.
"The development proves that good modern housing sells, that a committed local authority can have a very positive influence on the design, that a masterplan with a range of architects can be successful and that the very best architecture does not need to rely on gimmicks.”
