The six finalists for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) International Prize 2016 have been announced.
The buildings will now be visited by the Grand Jury of the prize before the winner is announced on Thursday 24 November 2016.
The selection follows a rigorous judging process which saw the RIBA awards committee travel to 30 buildings across 5 continents before choosing six buildings which will be visited again in November.
Setting a new global standard for architectural achievement, the prize will be judged by a grand jury of experts chaired by world-renowned architect, Lord Richard Rogers of Riverside.
Projects demonstrate a range of innovative responses to the role of public architecture, providing major new additions to their contexts and communities.
The refined restoration of an existing industrial complex and newly constructed contemporary arts centre in The Azores (Arquipelago Contemporary Arts Centre); a radical new culture centre and public space in the capital of Azerbaijan, (Heydar Aliyev Centre); a new museum of contemporary art in the heart of Mexico City (Museo Jumex); a new civic library and concert hall in northern Norway (Stormen Concert Hall, Theatre and Public Library); a war memorial in Northern France engraved with names of the thousands who died in WWI (The Ring of Remembrance, International WWI Memorial of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette) and a university of engineering in Lima (UTEC - Universidad de Ingenieria y Tecnologia).
The RIBA International Prize will be awarded biennially to the most transformative building which demonstrates visionary, innovative thinking, excellence of execution, and makes a distinct contribution to its users and physical context. Unlike any previous RIBA award for architecture, the RIBA International Prize is open to any qualified architect in the world.
RIBA President, Jane Duncan said: “The RIBA International Prize was created to showcase the best new buildings worldwide. At its heart, the prize celebrates architectural excellence, vision, and the power of great architecture for the public good.
“The finalists selected by our jury represent an exceptional selection of buildings across the world, and notably include a number of buildings dedicated to culture and the arts, reflecting the visionary clients who have commissioned architecture of the highest calibre. It demonstrates the understanding of how a building can powerfully communicate the shared history of our cultural past and present, and become a focus of civic pride for the people that use these spaces whether for meeting and enjoyment or cultural appreciation.
"This is seen in each of the buildings on our final list, including a university that specialises in engineering but which incorporates a theatre and cinema space into its campus. Whilst creating a locus for students and staff, these interventions reflect the integration of science with culture in their programme of studies.
"Our panel of jurors have been particularly impressed by the way in which each building reacts to, resolves and assimilates into the varying geographies and contexts - from dense urban cities to a small town in the Arctic Circle. Each project resolves the complex demands of its context with ingenuity, exceptional detail and finishing and a sensitivity to the needs of the users and communities which will inhabit these spaces.
"The selection speaks to the positive impact of investing in culture, in quality and in architecture which has a direct impact on the communities that use them. Expanding our awards to a global network of ambitious and visionary architects has resulted in a truly valuable insight, and we look forward to announcing the winner following the Grand Jury’s visits and deliberations.”
