Burntwood School picks up RIBA Stirling Prize 2015
October 15 2015
Designed by AHMM in collaboration with BurroHappold and Lend Lease the new look school mixes new build elements and refurbished 1950s structures.
Sporting a faceted precast concrete façade the contemporary design takes into account the thermal mass of the concrete, heat generated by 2,200 pupils and the prevailing weather.
Lead engineer Oliver Blythe of BuroHappold said: “We needed to design buildings that were lean, efficient and on budget. Considering sustainability, we employed a ‘passive-first’ design approach which reduces the reliance on mechanical heating and cooling systems, and subsequently energy use.”
9 Comments
#1 Posted by Big Chantelle on 16 Oct 2015 at 09:21 AM
I despair.
#2 Posted by Alf on 16 Oct 2015 at 09:41 AM
Big Chantelle, you can write about this in your next article.
#3 Posted by Neil C on 16 Oct 2015 at 16:30 PM
It beggars belief that this was deemed better than Maggie's. I can't even blame it on London bias, since several other finalists were in London and they were all far superior to this hideous Brutalist cube as well!
#4 Posted by Cadmonkey on 16 Oct 2015 at 19:52 PM
I gave up any interest in architecture competitions when Advocates Close won the Doolan.
#5 Posted by RJB on 16 Oct 2015 at 21:14 PM
Well done to AHMM, though it seems to be the weaker of their short listings ? I can't help but think the juries of this and the previous stirlings seem very consistent in picking the wrong ones out of the shortlist every year. It is a travesty o'donnell tuomey haven't won a Stirling
#6 Posted by The Batman. on 17 Oct 2015 at 01:42 AM
Given the rather massive budget the winner had it isn't surprising they have produced such a great looking school, but it's a re-clad, and there's nothing very new about this (nor other candidates). All in all the can were rather mediocre with only Reiach and Hall (for me) standing out. With a tiny budget, delicate brief coupled with great execution forming they formed a building of real emotion that should beat any school... Thoughts?
#7 Posted by MAF on 17 Oct 2015 at 10:39 AM
No mention of any parklets here?
#8 Posted by Stephen on 17 Oct 2015 at 12:35 PM
I think it's a lot easier to design a Maggie's than a school. The brief in a Maggies is very easy to get your head around. Not to say R&H's wasn't a great building but Maggie's get shortlisted quite often and Rodgers obviously won it.
As for Neil C's 'London Bias'. I don't see any evidence and think it's very wrong to raise it in that light. All of Britain's very best firms are based in London and most of their work is based there or abroad.
That said, the Stirling Prize has failed to inspire in recent years with some very average shortlists. All just my opinion obviously.
As for Neil C's 'London Bias'. I don't see any evidence and think it's very wrong to raise it in that light. All of Britain's very best firms are based in London and most of their work is based there or abroad.
That said, the Stirling Prize has failed to inspire in recent years with some very average shortlists. All just my opinion obviously.
#9 Posted by Neil C on 19 Oct 2015 at 16:25 PM
#8 - You are absolutely correct. I included the sentence about London bias in my original comment because it's an excuse that's often trotted out by defeated provincial finalists when a capital project wins a national award/competition.
I still think the judges made a poor choice, though...
I still think the judges made a poor choice, though...
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