In a surprise decision the 2012 Stirling prize went to neither of the critics’ favourite buildings, nor to the Olympic Stadium. The winner is a relatively modest laboratory in Cambridge, designed by Stanton Williams, set in the university’s Botanic Gardens.
How wonderful that a laboratory in a botanic gardens should have won the 2012 Stirling Prize, awarded to the building that has “made the greatest contribution to British architecture”. Apparently the scientists who work there love it too. Any of you working on crops or wild relatives? And that reminds me, I wonder whether they’ve appointed a new Director yet. We’re both available …
Don’t miss the virtual tour here.
Oooh. Stunning. I love the reflection of the person — doing the photograph? — in the Reception panorama.
The same architects also designed the Millennium Seed Bank in West Sussex. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2012/oct/20/stanton-williams-architecture-building