The trip is over, the intellectual dust settling after five solid days of architectural debate. It has been intense - flight after flight, taxi after taxi, all filled with thoughts and opinions about our six buildings.
The last day was a little calmer than the others, seeing the two UK buildings. We pitched up in the morning to look around Haworth Tompkins' Young Vic Theatre, which is easily the least iconic building on the list. It kicked off one of the most interesting conversations of the week. Some argued that its very non-iconic nature should make it a serious contender. Others felt that there wasn't enough architecture here, amongst the collage of elements that make up this informal place. I think it's a serious contender.
After a heated discussion in the taxi to Windsor, we arrived in the big parking lot next to Windsor Great Park Visitors Centre, which is a stark contrast. The Glen Howells-designed building is a symmetrical set-piece. It's mostly a roof, to be completely honest, but it's a fine one, the zig-zagging soffit enclosing a strange garden centre/café hybrid. The jury, along with the fresh-face Howells, brought down the average age of visitors considerably.
Just as we began with a spectacular roof, with Foster's Dresden station, we end with one, Howells' timber gridshell providing the shelter for the jury's last supper. It has been a bit like being on a school trip, and I have begun to feel unaccountably close to my jury colleagues. As we recorded our interviews with Channel 4 (to be screened during the award coverage on October 6th), I felt melancholy. The high-minded debate is over for this year, now we have a few weeks to think of our winners.
So, the final decision? Well, it's not made until the day of the announcement (October 6th). But, quite honestly, I went on the trip thinking I knew who would win, and now I have absolutely no idea who we'll choose. Stay tuned - I'll update you on the 7th with the inside story from the final round of judging.
Kieran Long, September 14th, 2007
