Newsview: Stirling Prize nominees and the Totem shelving unit
The designer of the controversial, Rugby Museum in Limerick, (or the International Rugby Experience Limerick to give it its full title), has just been shortlisted for the prestigious Stirling Prize.
Niall McLaughlin of Niall McLaughlin Architects is one of only six firms to make thecut for the internationally recognised, UK- based prize, awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects, RIBA.
The Stirling shortlist this year comprises student housing, an office building, a cemetery, art gallery, lecture theatre, and a nursery school and the winner will be selected on October 10 next.
Projects include the Bloomberg Building, London, by Foster + Partners, described as a “highly-innovative new workplace... commissioned by an ambitious civic-minded client” in the citation.
Bushey Cemetery, Hertfordshire by Waugh Thistleton Architects is listed for being “an extraordinary spiritual building formed of natural rammed earth walls, oak and rusted steel, with the beliefs and customs of the Jewish faith at its heart”, while Chadwick Hall, by Henley Halebrown, makes the grade for its “intelligent buildings which ... provide high-quality student housing for Roehampton University, built on a modest budget”.
TheNew Tate St Ives
The most high-profile new building, the New Tate St Ives, Cornwall, by Jamie Fobert Architects with Evans & Shalev is cited for its “ingenious reconfiguration and extension of the Postmodern art gallery which doubles the exhibition space”, while Storey’s Field Centre and Eddington Nursery, Cambridge is a “breath-taking building by MUMA” for a building commissioned by Cambridge University.
The Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre, at Worcester College, Oxford by Niall McLaughlin Architects is described as a “floating auditorium crafted from classic Oxford stone and natural oak... which blends into the established landscape of Worcester College.”
This is the third time the firm has been shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling prize, in 2013 it was shortlisted for Bishop Edward King Chapel, followed by Derbyshire Place in 2015. The practice, which is London-based, was also commissioned to create a new entrance and gardens at the British Museum in London.
“Each of the projects on this year’s shortlist shows the power and payback of investing in quality architecture, RIBA president Ben Derbyshire said at last week’s announcement, adding that well-designed buildings are worth every penny, and often exceed the expectations of the community they serve.
“It doesn’t go unnoticed that half of the buildings were commissioned by UK universities, suggesting that parts of the higher education sector value the importance of improving the quality of their buildings and estates to reward and attract students, staff and visitors, and to make a positive contribution to their local area.”
The response to that assertion might well be that having a donor’s name on a great University’s lecture hall or library tends to have more impact than if it were placed on a social housing estate in less than salubrious urban setting — prestige begets prestige. Great work is created by great wealth and indeed, McLaughlin’s design for Limerick’s proposed new rugby museum is the direct result of support from trader and investor, JP McManus, who lives outside of this country for the most part.
However, he has invested in this new tourist draw for Limerick city centre, but the site chosen is within the heavily-protected, Georgian heart of the city. The design for the new building, which includes an ambitious, seven-storey tower, soaring over streets of perfectly symmetrical Georgians rows, caused outrage in heritage quarters, and the planning application is under appeal to An Bord Pleanála, by An Taisce in particular, on a number of grounds.
Expect to hear more of this, but the tragedy from Limerick’s and the country’s perspective, is perhaps, that the opportunity to have a building created by an internationally recognised, Irish architect may be shot down in flames because, as the objectors see it, it’s the wrong design, in the wrong place.
The Totem shelving unit
Here’s a cute, clever and vibrant little design that will fit a number of uses in the family home. It’s cool enough for couples, bright and safe enough for kids, perfect for home office and size-wise,will fit into any old space where a desk/storage base is needed. And it’s up in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.
Created by Bristol-based furniture designers ‘Modern Wire’, the Totem shelving unit is like all great design, delightful in its simplicity — and it’s being sold flat back to Irish customers for €685 including Vat.
A stylish, multipurpose shelving unit with integrated desk, the Totem is made from powder-coated steel with rod supports with shelving and desk in red, blue and yellow.
“Totem’s minimal wire work design suits most modern interiors, says Aaron Dewey of Modern Wire, “its easy push-fit assembly requires no instructions.”
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