The RIBA reveals longlist for the world’s best building

We have been keenly following developments on the RIBA International Prize ever since its inaugural edition was launched in 2016. Spanning continents, building styles and typologies, this is the ultimate architectural recognition for design excellence across the globe – and Wallpaper* is partnering with the RIBA to follow the process and champion the worthy candidates once more.
The long list of nominees has just been announced, and it’s one that is varied, as it is rich. The prestigious award will explore buildings such as ‘a tranquil chapel wrapped within a forest canopy (the Sayama Forest Chapel in Japan) to the bold reimagining of a grain factory into a new contemporary art museum (Heatherwick Studio’s Zeitz MOCAA in Africa)’, explain the organisers.
There’s houses, such as the Cabbage Tree House by Peter Stutchbury in Australia; large-scale public works, such as King Fahad National Library in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by Gerber Architects; and commercial buildings, such as the BBVA Bancomer Tower in Mexico City, designed as a collaboration between Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Legorreta + Legorreta. The impressive list includes 62 masterpieces from almost 30 countries.
The award’s Grand Jury is headed this year by Elizabeth Diller, of New York-based Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The panel – also including Joshua Bolchover, co-founder of Rural Urban Frameworks and winner of the 2016 RIBA International Emerging Architect, and lay juror Wayne McGregor CBE – will now study carefully the candidates to create a shortlist, from which they will select the worthy winner late next year. The results of the RIBA International Prize will be announced in December 2018. We can’t wait.
The Beyazit State Library by Tabanlioglu Architects in Istanbul.
Cabbage Tree House by Peter Stutchbury Architecture in Bayview, Australia.
Central European University by O'Donnell + Tuomey in Budapest, Hungary.
Factory in the Forest in Penang, by architects: Design Unit Sdn Bhd with Chin Kuen Cheng Architect, engineers: Web Structures and Design Unit.
King Fahad National Library by Gerber Architekten, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Budapest's Metro Line 4 by Palatium Studio Ltd., with Budapesti Építőművészeti Műhely Ltd., Gelesz és Lenzsér Építészeti Ltd., Puhl és Dajka Építész Iroda Ltd., sporaarchitects Ltd., VPI Építész Studio Ltd., Palatium M4 Projekt Ltd.
The Mulan Weichang Visitor Centre
by HDD, in China.
The ROGIC -ROKI Global Innovation Centre in Japan, by Tetsuo Kobori Architects.
The Sancaklar Mosque in Istanbul, by EAA-Emre
Arolat Architecture.
Structures of Landscape in Montana, USA by ENSAMBLE STUDIO.
Vertical Forest housing in Milan by Boeri Studio with Studio Emanuela Borio and Laura Gatti.
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa by Heatherwick Studio with Van Der Merwe Miszewski Architects (VDMAA), Rick Brown Associates, Jacobs Parker, in Cape Town.
INFORMATION
For more information visit the RIBA website
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Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
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