Assemble wins 2015 Turner Prize

Granby Workshop - arch shelving units on a neutral stone wall, lighting, colourful ornaments, potted plant, small tables with ornaments, wooden slat ceiling with hanging ceiling lights

Architecture and design collective Assemble have won the Turner Prize thanks to their community-based projects, including Granby Workshop - pictured here - a social enterprise operating on a crowd-funding model which trains and employs local people in experimental manufacturing processes, with profits going back into the business

(Image credit: Tristan Fewings, Getty Images for RIBA)

By Sam Rogers

published 8 December 2015

in News

The London-based architecture and design collective Assemble have won this year's Turner Prize.

The prestigious award – previously bestowed upon Anish Kapoor, Antony Gormley and Damien Hirst, among others – celebrates and champions artists under the age of 50 working in the UK. This year's winners were revealed at Glasgow's Tramway last night, the announcement made by artist Sonic Youth frontwoman Kim Gordon.

Assemble, known for their community-based projects and architectural approach, scooped the prize for their work with residents of the Granby Four Street in Liverpool — a group of terraced houses built around 1900, which residents have been fighting to save from demolition for the past decade. Other notable projects of the 18-strong collective include 'Underline ', Transport for London's contemporary art initiative which will see them unleash their creativity on Seven Sisters tube station in 2016, and the popular Brutalist Playground at the RIBA.

The top accolade earns the group £25,000, while fellow nominees – British multimedia artist Bonnie Camplin, Canadian audio and performance artist Janice Kerbel; and German sculptor, installation, and collage artist Nicole Wermers – receive £5,000 each. All will feature in a group exhibition that will be on view until 17 January, 2016 at the Tate.

Outside image of Matthew Leung , stood at the Seven Sisters station small brick building shop, blue metal shutters closed, tall underground station sign with blue weathered post, concrete floor, trees and shrubs in the backdrop, grey sky — Assemble's Matthew Leung and the Seven Sisters station shop which will become the hub of their Underline project.

RIBA’s The Brutalist Playground, pastel green and pink speckled blocks at the base of a metal yellow framed circular tilted green speckled platform, grey speckled walkway and white walls with brown base trim — RIBA's The Brutalist Playground created by Turner Prize nominees Assemble and artist Simon Terrill.

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