The BBC Scotland building at Pacific Quay is one of five
Scottish winners of the 2008 RIBA Awards. The Royal Incorporation
of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) announced the five winners from
north of the border, recognising the current quality of
architectural work in Scotland.
Arnie Dunn, President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects
in Scotland, said: "This year's RIBA awards demonstrate, once
again, that Scottish architects who work within one of the most
demanding climates in Europe are creating buildings which stand
comparison with the very best in the UK. The RIAS is particularly
pleased with the diverse building types represented on this year's
list, which demonstrate the skills of our membership across a
tremendous range of highly complex and demanding projects."
The Scottish 2008 RIBA Award winners are (listed
alphabetically):
- BBC Scotland at Pacific Quay, Glasgow David Chipperfield
Architects
- Castlemilk Stables, Glasgow Elder and Cannon Architects
- New Arts Faculty Building, University of St Andrews Reiach and
Hall Architects
- Pier Arts Centre, Victoria Street, Stromness Reiach and Hall
Architects
- Todlaw Supported Housing, Duns Oliver Chapman Architects
The judging panel for this year, chaired by Jamie Fobert,
architect and winner of the 2003 Manser Medal, also included Arnie
Dunn, President of the RIAS, and Daphne Thissen, Acting Head of the
Press and Culture Department of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands. The panel was advised by RIAS Secretary &
Treasurer, Neil Baxter. The RIBA Awards, among the most prestigious
annual architectural awards in the UK, have been running
continuously since 1966. RIBA Awards are given for buildings that
achieve the highest architectural standards and make a substantial
contribution to the local environment. RIBA Award-winning buildings
go on to be considered for RIBA National Awards, which will be
awarded at a ceremony on 27 June 2008.
BBC Scotland at Pacific Quay
Central to the design is the placement of a sequence of large
studio spaces in the centre of the building, stepping up in scale
towards the back. The negative space above has been utilised as a
massive central atrium. The elegant sculptural block is full of
activity and holds everything together. By hiding the set of
studios beneath it the architects have resolved a major element of
the brief into a piece of architecture and created a central space
to house the cultural life of the building.
The question of how to make something that is purely functional
into something socially and sculpturally successful has here been
addressed with great skill. The architecture has seamlessly
resolved technical, production, office-based and social functions
within a singularly awe-inspiring volume.