Art & Architecture + stadium

Lubetkin Prize has got to the bird's nest

Stadium in Beijing

National Stadium in Beijing which in the people is called “the birds nest”, has received prestigious Lubetkin Prize, founded Royal Institute of British Architects, RIBA, as the most outstanding architectural work outside of the European Union.

Speaking about a building, the main judge of the award and President RIBA, Sunand Prasad has told: “this year the short list looked excellently. Discussion was long, however the result is obvious”.

The birds nest

The National Stadium is a project of architectural company Herzog and de Meuron, executed together with China Architectural Design and research Group, Arup Sport and Ove Arup and Partners Hong Kong), artist Ai Wei Wei.

Circles of the applicants who have entered into a short list: Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal, project Foster and Partners together with NACO and Beijing Institute of Architectural Design; Watercube, National Swimming Centre, project PTW Architects together with China State Construction and Engineering Corporation; building Museum Brandhorst in Munich; Sean O’Casey Community Centre in Dublin; building The British High Commission in Sri Lanka, project Richard Murphy Architects.

The project jury in which structure were Sunand Prasad RIBA President, Tony Chapman, RIBA Head of Awards Paul Monaghan, the architect and Chair of the RIBA Awards Group Alison Brooks, architect Tom Dyckhoff — have visited all six buildings-applicants.

National Stadium