Stirling prize 2010

Stirling prize 2010

So much of our domestic lives is functional and practical.  We are driven by the necessity of all we have to achieve in the day just to maintain our existence.  The buildings that we use serve us in this...our homes, schools, surgeries, shops, colleges, offices etc.  We are fortunate enough to live in a Country where the evolution of these building types has been an ongoing process over the Centuries and one which has left a rich variety of buildings which we continue to use albeit not always in the way that they were intended.  We adapt buildings to enable them to remain useful to us.  If we like the aesthetics and appearance enough we often put up with idiosyncrasies of the original design...low ceilings, narrow corridors, steep stairs etc. There comes a time however when the functionality is too compromised and we relocate to something that better serves our needs.

Some new building projects escape the mundane ties of the everyday due to their intended purpose being one that is out of the ordinary...a special activity that transcends the common. One such a building type is an Art gallery or a Museum.  By its very nature the role of this building gives more opportunity for freedom of expression in its design.   

This year the Stirling prize for Architecture has two museums and an Art gallery amongst its six shortlisted finalists. Earlier this week the judges discussed the merits of two of these entries in a radio broadcast.   It was interesting to hear some of the comments on what they felt these buildings should offer “A functional space which gives the individual a changed sense of themselves”, “A building that engages with the people who visit it at an emotional level, subtly adding to the experience of the displays themselves.”  Other comments note that the design must be complete in a holistic way as well as in the aesthetic sense. 

We may well find it overpowering if we were to take in a museum or galley on a daily basis but on the occasion when we do visit them I think we expect to be prompted or moved to re-consider our existing ideas or have our perception altered. 

It is worth noting that these projects have been some years in their development, usually far longer than a standard building project.  They are the result of a very deliberate and conscious thought process with their own unique criteria. The result in every case is an inspired individual building.  This is a form that does not conform to those utilitarian practicalities that constrain our everyday buildings but opens our minds to other possibilities and ideas.  They are a thought provoking and inspirational break from the ordinary!