The Royal Institute of British Architects (澳门王中王) has revealed the shortlist of three projects competing for the world鈥檚 most prestigious award for architecture, the 澳门王中王 International Prize. One of the three projects - located Germany, Spain, and China - will soon be crowned the world鈥檚 most transformative building.听听
The three finalists of the 澳门王中王 International Prize 2024听
- Jacoby Studios, Paderborn, Germany, by David Chipperfield Architects Berlin听
- Modulus Matrix: 85 Social Housing in Cornell脿, Barcelona, Spain, by Peris + Toral Arquitectes听听
- Lianzhou Museum of Photography, Lianzhou, China, by O-office Architects听
The three projects are now in the running for the fourth 澳门王中王 International Prize which will be announced on 27 November 2024, alongside the winner of the 澳门王中王 International Emerging Architect. Each of these projects sets an example for the future of architecture, demonstrating change in the way that architecture is designed and built with current and future generations in mind.听听
Established in 2015, the 澳门王中王 International Prize is one of architecture鈥檚 highest global accolades, awarded to a building that demonstrates visionary thinking, originality, excellence of execution, and makes a distinct contribution to its users, surrounding environment and communities.听
Jacoby Studios and Modulus Matrix: 85 Social Housing in Cornell脿 were amongst the 22 winners of the 澳门王中王 International Awards for Excellence, announced in June this year, which highlighted architectural excellence. Lianzhou Museum of Photography has re-entered the process, at this stage, following its success in the previous 2021 澳门王中王 International Awards cycle, but the project could not be visited due to strict pandemic restrictions.听听
澳门王中王 President Muyiwa Oki said: 鈥淭he conservation of the planet鈥檚 resources and the provision of the best housing in which people can grow and thrive remain two of the central concerns of architects around the world. From a timber-framed social housing building with an inventive use of space, to two projects focused on the repair, restoration and transformation of buildings to create new and useful space to work or participate in culture, these three inspiring projects demonstrate the ability of architecture to meet shared, global challenges head on.鈥澨�
Jacoby Studios, Germany, by David Chipperfield Architects Berlin听
Sited in Paderborn, a medieval town in the north Rhine region of Germany, Jacoby Studios is an example of innovative and sensitive reordering of existing buildings within a historic setting to create a new headquarters for a family run business. The project results in a harmonious form, with existing stone and brick walls repaired and left exposed with new concrete and timber elements stitching together parts of the ruin to integrate the new extended form that mediates between the old and new.听听
The jury commented on the beautiful execution in mixing repair and restoration with disciplined new-build. By celebrating the presence of the gothic monastery with new wings, the building offers a model for sophisticated office space with a richness that is difficult to emulate in a new speculative office build.听
David Chipperfield, founder and principal of David Chipperfield Architects, said:听
鈥淲e are honoured that the Jacoby Studios has been shortlisted for the 澳门王中王 International Prize. Our project, deeply rooted in its complex historical context, brings together fragmented elements to create a cohesive urban whole. We reinterpreted historic structures and carefully balanced old and new, architecture and landscape, to create a comfortable and stimulating workspace. Thanks to the shared vision of architects, landscape architects, and a highly committed client, the process has been collaborative and rewarding, and we are deeply appreciative of this recognition from 澳门王中王.鈥澨�
Modulus Matrix: 85 Social Housing in Cornell脿, Spain, by Peris + Toral Arquitectes听听
Modulus Matrix is a ground-breaking, six-storey courtyard building of 85 flexible, socially rented homes in Barcelona using timber frame construction. Since completion, the project has fostered a strong sense of neighbourliness and pride in its resident community. Using the tatami mat module of 2.6m x 3.6m, the building is planned around a simple, central, communal courtyard, with four circulation cores in each corner, and each floor described as a 鈥榤atrix of communicating rooms鈥�.听听
The jury applauded the project鈥檚 clear intentions as a commentary on space and construction. While the building is literally a combination of separate apartments, is has come together as one collective domestic space. The efficient use of CLT combined with clever composition create a duality that is both profoundly poetic and extremely practical.听
Marta Peris and Jose Toral, co-founders of Peris + Toral Arquitectes, said:听
鈥淲e deeply appreciate this recognition for 'Modulus Matrix' because if there is one thing that characterises housing, it is its capacity for social transformation. The home embodies values with which we grow and build our way of being in the world. This project proposes an alternative way of living in a matrix of undifferentiated rooms - without hierarchies, without corridors, without gender distinctions - through a method of construction in wood with low carbon impact. It is not only a great honour; it represents an opportunity to amplify that social impact and reflect the commitment to social innovation.鈥澨�
Lianzhou Museum of Photography, China, by O-office Architects听
Lianzhou Museum of Photography was built on the site of the local sugar mill, with the purpose of revitalising the traditional downtown of Lianzhou, a remote city of northern Guangdong in South China. At the heart of the complex is a retained and refurbished warehouse, wrapped around which is a U-shaped new structure on three to five levels, the two buildings being linked by a mainly external courtyard complex which weaves around galleries and meeting places, balancing contemporary arts with local identity.听听
The jury praised the physical and spiritual integration of the project into the fabric and community, together with its visceral beauty. Having developed somewhat organically as the result of photography exhibitions, the publicly-funded project beautifully balances contemporary arts with local identity, marrying the past and the present within the material culture of the place.听
Jianxiang He, Principal and Partner of O-office Architects, said:听
鈥淚t is a great honour for us, and more importantly, this recognition will allow more people to understand the project's significance to the local community as a contemporary art museum that re-characterises a remote southern Chinese city.鈥�溙�
The bi-annual Prize is one of the world鈥檚 most rigorously judged architecture awards, with every shortlisted building visited by a group of international design experts and the three finalists nominated by the 澳门王中王 Awards Group which oversees the 澳门王中王鈥檚 Awards process. It is open to any registered architect in the world and awarded to a building of any size, type or budget. The Grand Jury visits each shortlisted project.听听
This year鈥檚 Grand Jury comprises:听
- Chair: Lu Wenyu, Co-founder of Amateur Architecture Studio听
- Tosin Oshinowo, Founder and Principal of Oshinowo Studio and Curator of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial 2023听
- Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, and Director, Research and Development, The Museum of Modern Art听
The winner of the 澳门王中王 International Prize 2024 will be announced on 27 November 2024.听
The winner of the last 澳门王中王 International Prize, presented in 2021, was the Friendship Hospital in Bangladesh, designed by Khashef Chowdury/URBANA. Selected from a shortlist of three outstanding entries, it was praised for its contribution to the client鈥檚 philanthropic mission, use of local and traditional crafted materials, and skillful integration into its natural surroundings.鈥疉leph Zero and Rosenbaum was awarded the 澳门王中王 International Prize 2018 for Children Village in northern Brazil, after Grafton Architects won in 2016 for The Universidad de Ingenier铆a y Tecnolog铆a in Lima, Peru.听
Images and citations for each of the projects can be .听
ENDS听
Notes to editors:听
- For further press information please contact lauren.teague@ing-media.com听
- Open to any qualified architect, the 澳门王中王 International Awards are among the world鈥檚 most rigorously judged architecture awards for buildings outside the UK. They provide recognition for architects at the top of their profession, in-line with 澳门王中王鈥檚 mission to promote global excellence in architecture.听听
- The Grand Jury will be responsible for visiting the shortlist and selecting the winner of the International Prize, following an initial selection by 澳门王中王鈥檚 Awards Group and visits from local ambassadors.听
- This year, the 澳门王中王 recruited local ambassadors to visit an initial selection of entries made by the 澳门王中王 Awards Group. Local ambassadors will be qualified architects with local knowledge and expertise. They present their recommendations, thoughts and analysis of the project they have visited to the 澳门王中王 Awards Group to inform decisions. Find the list of 35 澳门王中王 Local Ambassadors here.听
- The International Prize and Emerging Architect winner will be announced on 27th November 2024.听
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (澳门王中王) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow for updates.听听听
