David Chipperfield introduces his latest masterpiece, the Neues Museum, to HRH The Prince of Wales. BDOnline's running a mini competition to see who can come up with the wittiest caption for the above picture.
In other news, The Glasgow School of Art is holding a major competition for a new 50 million pound building and has attraced a stellar crowd of entrants. Though both Foster & Partners and Herzog & de Meuron have both opted against entering the ring, further scrunity of the list made me scream like a teenaged girl standing in front of Takeshi Kaneshiro.
Joining forces
Architects who have teamed up to enter include:
* Richard Murphy with Sutherland Hussey
* RMJM with Rafael Moneo
* MVRDV with Austin Smith Lord
* John McAslan with Nord
* Flacq with Ken Powell
On their own
Other confirmed entrants include:
* Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners
* Malcolm Fraser Architects
* Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
* Zaha Hadid Architects
* Allies & Morrison Architects
* David Chipperfield Architects
* Studio Fuksas
* Gareth Hoskins Architects
* Hopkins Architects
* Alison Brooks Architects
* Haworth Tompkins
* Grimshaw Architects
* David Adjaye
* Graeme Massie
* O'Donnell & Tuomey
* Page & Park
From the organisers:
Despite the stellar list of entrants, Reading insisted the school was keen to appoint an up-and-coming architect if possible. “There is a serious building to be delivered,” he said, “but the university was very keen that young architects should be encouraged. So we’ve encouraged people to form partnerships. “Rennie Mackintosh was 28 when he won the competition in the 1890s. We don’t know if history will repeat itself, but the school is looking for something fresh.”
A comment like that doesn't bode very well for the likes of Moneo and Chippo. RMJM's got an extremely strong portfolio of institutional buildings ranging from education to healthcare, but they aren't big on fancy schmancy design, and paired up with the restraint of Moneo means you'll likely get a handsome, dignified and competent building. Same goes for Chippo (another big Moneo fan), whose concern and judicious response to history and context isn't likely to win the heart of Christine Hawley, Dean of the Built Environment at the Bartlett. Then there's Richard Murphy and John McAslan, two more reactionaries who shine at bouncing off context.
But if it does come down to young blood, then I'm eager to see what Haworth Tompkins comes up with. And heaven forbid a Hadid win. Please. Not here, upon such a precious piece of history.
More at BDOnline.
