The RIBA Stirling Prize is the prize for the UK’s best new building, and it’s being announced in just over a month’s time, but who has the tough job of deciding which one pips the others to the post? It’s time to meet the 2018 jury.
This year’s chair may be our most prized yet, the internationally-renowned Ghanaian British architect, Sir David Adjaye OBE.
Adjaye set up his office in 1994 and has since established himself as a leading architect of his generation. In 2000 the studio was reformed as Adjaye Associates and now has offices in London, New York and Accra. One of his most famous projects to date is the $540 million Smithsonian Institute National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC, which opened in 2016.
Alongside major international commissions, Adjaye's work spans exhibitions, private homes and artist collaborations.
The jury changes each year and always includes a representative from the most recent award-winning practice; this year, founding member of dRMM, Alex de Rijke, will take that spot.
De Rijke a keen advocate of timber. In 2006 he wrote, ‘Timber is the new Concrete’, and introduced cross-laminated timber to the UK with groundbreaking prefabricated buildings. Ever since he’s been experimenting with the material.His most recent timber project, Maggie’s cancer care centre in Oldham, is made entirely from tulipwood CLT and glassand is a 2018 RIBA National Award winner.
From 2011 to 2015 de Rijke was Professor of the Masters programme and Dean of Architecture at the Royal College of Art; he’s currently Examiner at the Architectural Association and Visiting Professor to the Royal College of Art.
Our lay assessor this year is former Southbank Centre Artistic Director and founder of Women of the World (WOW) Foundation, Jude Kelly CBE.
Originally from Liverpool, Kelly is one of the UK’s longest-serving leaders in the arts, having directed the UK’s largest cultural centre for over a decade. Since then she has devoted her time to celebrating the achievements of women across the world.
Next up we have Kathrin Hersel, Property Director at Almacantar, our sponsor of the RIBA Stirling Prize. Kathrin manages Almacantar’s vast portfolio and oversees all investment and development activities, covering site assembly, planning, design, construction and leasing of Almacantar’s development pipeline.
Our final jury member is RIBA President, Ben Derbyshire. Embarking on his second year of his term Derbyshire is also Chair of multi-award winning practice HTA Design, who most recently recieved the AJ100’s Employer of the Year Award.
The winner of the 2018 RIBA Stirling Prize will be announced on Wednesday 10 October 2018 at the Roundhouse in London.
