Riccardo Bianchini and Federica Lusiardi were chosen as the winners from a total of 211 entries.
In August 2003, on behalf of Samuel Alexander Ltd and promoted by both Westminster City Council (WCC) and the Borough of Lambeth, the RIBA launched a competition to design an exciting and innovative structure for Cleopatra’s Kiosk, located on the north bank of the River Thames in London. Open to entrants worldwide, the brief made reference to the Kiosk’s history and entrants were invited to design and develop a structure ‘worthy of the unique setting’ thereby making it ‘a tourist attraction in its own right’.
The jury panel praised the winners, Bianchini and Lusiardi for their ‘organic form’ of design which enabled them to stand out from all other entries.
The planning application for Cleopatra’s Kiosk was approved in February 2005 and the project was subsequently completed and opened in July 2007 at a total cost of £160,000.