The 2012 RIBA Stirling prize went to a dark horse this year: the Sainsbury Lab designed by Stanton Williams. Hanif Kara’s (lecturer in creative engineering) structural and civil engineering firm AKT II shared the accolades. Bookmakers had put their money (and yes, that’s not a metaphor) on entries by David Chipperfield and Rem Koolhaas’ OMA practice, and even Populous for the Olympic Stadium, all of which were on the shortlist.
Kara says, “This is a coveted prize and particularly sweet as it’s our second win in 10 years with an unprecedented 5 times on shortlist. It’s clearly because of the architects we work with and the design agenda.” The design process involved deep understanding of the working culture of the scientists in order to incorporate pathways for the incidental encounters that spark creativity. Felix Mara writing in The Architect’s Journal calls it, “A gallery designed around research laboratory practices with an ambitious social agenda.”
Read more on the RIBA Stirling website.
Photos: copyright by Hufton + Crow