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Carbuncle Cup

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Carbuncle Cup
Awarded forAnnual architecture prize given to the ugliest building in the United Kingdom
Sponsored byThe Fence (2024–), Building Design (2006–2018)
First awarded2006; 18 years ago (2006) (First run), 2024; 0 years ago (2024) (Second run)
Last awarded2018; 6 years ago (2018) (First run), to present (Second run)

The Carbuncle Cup is an architecture prize, given annually, originally by the magazine Building Design, and since 2024 by The Fence, to "the ugliest building in the United Kingdom completed in the last 12 months".[1] It was intended to be a humorous response to the prestigious Stirling Prize,[2] given by the Royal Institute of British Architects.[3]

History

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First run (2006–2018)

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The award was inspired by the Carbuncle Awards that Scottish architecture magazine Prospect (now Urban Realm), had been presenting to buildings and areas in Scotland since 2000.[4]

The name derives from a comment in 1984 by Charles, Prince of Wales (now Charles III), an opponent of certain modernist styles and forms and a staunch defender of existing characterisations, themes and points of interest, who described Ahrends, Burton and Koralek's proposed extension of London's National Gallery as a "monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend".[5][6]

The cup was launched in 2006, with the first winner being Drake Circus Shopping Centre in Plymouth by Chapman Taylor.[7] A shortlist was announced by the periodical each year, based on nominations from the public, and usually in the same week as the Stirling Prize shortlist. Free voting via the magazine's website was at first used to select the winner. From 2009 onwards, a small group of critics selected the winner. The original run was last held in 2018.

Second run (2024–)

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In 2024, Soho based magazine; The Fence revived the award, with the first year's award being given for buildings completed since the last award of the original run was given in 2018.[8] The judging panel for the 2024 awards comprised:

  • Tim Abrahams (chair) – contributing editor, Architectural Record
  • Vicky Richardson – FRIBA, architectural curator
  • Cajsa Carlson – deputy editor, Dezeen
  • James McLachlan – former editor, Icon
  • Lucy Watson – commissioning editor, Financial Times
  • Dr Penny Lewis – lecturer, University of Dundee; co-founder of the Carbuncle Awards
  • Charlie Baker – editor, The Fence[8]

Winners and nominees

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First run

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Year Architect Winning work Nominees and works
2006 Chapman Taylor
Drake Circus Shopping Centre,
Plymouth[9]
2007 Stephen George & Partners Opal Court,
Leicester[10]
2008 EPR Architects Radisson SAS Waterfront hotel,
Saint Helier, Jersey[2][11]
2009 Hamilton Architects Liverpool Ferry Terminal,
Liverpool[12][13]
2010 BFLS Strata SE1,
Elephant & Castle, London[15]
2011 Fairhurst, Chapman Taylor and Wilkinson Eyre MediaCityUK,
Salford, Greater Manchester[16]
2012 Grimshaw Architects Cutty Sark Renovation,
Greenwich, London[18]
2013 Stephen George & Partners 465 Caledonian Road,
University College London[20]
2014 Sheppard Robson Woolwich Central,
Woolwich, London[22]
2015 Rafael Viñoly 20 Fenchurch Street ('The Walkie-Talkie'), City of London[24]
2016 Hamiltons Architects Lincoln Plaza,
Isle of Dogs, London[26][27][28]
2017 PLP Architecture Nova Victoria, City of Westminster, London[30][31][32]
2018 BDP Redrock Stockport, Stockport, Greater Manchester[35]
  • Pace Jefford Moore Architects for 20 Ambleside Avenue, Streatham, London
  • Boyes Rees Architects for Beckley Point, Plymouth
  • Rolfe Judd for Haydn Tower, Vauxhall, London
  • PRP Architects for Lewisham Gateway, Lewisham, London
  • Signature Living for Shankly Hotel, Liverpool[36]

Second run

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Year Architect Winning work Nominees and works
2024 Broadway Malyan[37] Lime Street Redevelopment,
Liverpool, 2018[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Watson, Anna (22 July 2010). "Six in race for Carbuncle Cup". bdonline.co.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Who will get the wooden spoon in BD's Carbuncle Cup this year?". bdonline.co.uk. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  3. ^ "RIBA Stirling Prize". RIBA. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  4. ^ Urban Realm. "The Carbuncle Awards 2005". Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  5. ^ Glancey, Jonathan (17 May 2004). "Life after carbuncles". The Guardian.
  6. ^ "A speech by HRH The Prince of Wales at the 150th anniversary of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Royal Gala Evening at Hampton Court Palace". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
  7. ^ Dyckhoff, Tom (10 January 2007). "The malling of our cities". The Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  8. ^ a b c "The Carbuncle Cup 2024". The Fence. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Bottom of the barrel – Carbuncles 2006". bdonline.co.uk. 13 October 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  10. ^ "Scars, blots and eyesores". bdonline.co.uk. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  11. ^ "Are these the UK's worst buildings ever?". bdonline.co.uk. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  12. ^ Watson, Anna (19 August 2009). "Cesar Pelli's One Park West building fights Carbuncle Cup nomination". bdonline.co.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  13. ^ Baillieu, Amanda (28 August 2009). "Liverpool Ferry Terminal wins Carbuncle Cup 2009". bdonline.co.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  14. ^ "Carbuncle Cup 2009 longlist unveiled". bdonline.co.uk. 5 August 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  15. ^ Woodman, Ellis (13 August 2010). "Strata tower wins 2010 Carbuncle Cup". bdonline.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  16. ^ Woodman, Ellis (1 September 2011). "MediaCityUK wins 2011 Carbuncle Cup". Building Design.
  17. ^ Wainwright, Oliver (22 July 2011). "Bloated icons and dreary sheds go head to head in the race for the Carbuncle Cup". Building Design.
  18. ^ Woodman, Ellis (13 September 2012). "Cutty Sark Renovation". Building Design.
  19. ^ Woodman, Ellis (22 July 2012). "Carbuncle Cup 2012: the shortlist". Building Design.
  20. ^ "Carbuncle Cup winner 2013: A triumph for the dark side". bdonline.co.uk. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  21. ^ "Carbuncle Cup 2013 shortlist revealed". bdonline.co.uk. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  22. ^ "Carbuncle Cup 2014 winner announced". bdonline.co.uk. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  23. ^ "Carbuncle Cup 2014 shortlist announced". bdonline.co.uk. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  24. ^ "London's Walkie Talkie judged UK's worst building". BBC News. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  25. ^ "Carbuncle Cup 2015 shortlist unveiled". bdonline.co.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  26. ^ "Hamiltons seeks planning for Tower Hamlets tower". Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  27. ^ "Carbuncle Cup 2016 winner announced". bdonline.co.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  28. ^ "Lincoln Plaza luxury Docklands flats win Carbuncle Cup". BBC News. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  29. ^ "Carbuncle Cup 2016 shortlist unveiled". bdonline.co.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  30. ^ "Carbuncle Cup 2017 winner announced". bdonline.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  31. ^ "London's Nova Victoria crowned UK's ugliest building". BBC News. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  32. ^ "'A bright red preening cockerel': Nova building crowned UK's ugliest". TheGuardian.com. 6 September 2017.
  33. ^ "Carbuncle Cup". Building Design. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  34. ^ "Carbuncle Cup 2017 shortlist unveiled". Building Design. Retrieved 30 August 2017.[permanent dead link]
  35. ^ "Winner of 2018 Carbuncle Cup announced". bdonline.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  36. ^ "Carbuncle Cup 2018 shortlist unveiled". Building Design. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  37. ^ "Broadway Malyan and ISG Lime Street scheme wins revived Carbuncle Cup". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 14 June 2024.