Rogers Has the X-Factor at Tonights Stirling Prize

And so as Kevin McCloud drew events to a close at tonight’s Stirling Prize Gala, it was left to new RIBA president Ruth Reed to announce the winner. It was the Maggie’s Centre London by Rogers, Stirk, Harbour and Partners that took the honours for 2009. Congratulations to them on this considerable achievement.

Read the judges citation here

Read the building study in Building Design here

Hear what Richard Rogers had to say here

Post ceremony discussions think it was a snub to Prince Charles. See here

Read more

2. Millennium Pier to Woolwich Ferry

Introduction

The first Saturday after university commences is tough. Woke this morning in the limbo that exists between the bodies desire to hide in bed away from impending Autumn, and the minds desire to study. The mind always wins in the end. I begin my tasks. So far I have only half a days experience of a small fraction of the Thames study area. So I am a little stressed as I head into London. I hope to recommence the walk from the Dome further on to Woolwich.

Read more

1. First Day of School

The first day back at university was quite good in the end & went some way to assuage my fears about the final year. Although in the corridors there are whisperings that all might not be well amongst our esteemed tutors. I only hope I can rely on the tutor to deliver the course we deserve. If issues exist they best sort them and inform the student body before it is too late.

Read more

Paper Tower by Shigeru Ban

Royal Festival Hall

London Design Festival 2009

Shigeru Ban is causing a stir on the South Bank as he brings the versatility of paper to the London Design Festival, in the form of Paper Tower. It forms part of the Size and Matter series at Royal Festival Hall that also includes an installation by Marc Newson.

Read more

Taste the Difference: The Ludlow Food Festival

Introduction

Food has a biographical quality which triggers memories and associations. Consider a favourite meal and you will recall the place in which you ate it. This is where the link between food and places forms, especially when what you may have eaten is associated uniquely with that place. Italy always conjures those memories for me, as it is a nation like no other for a celebration of regional diversity not only in food but in art and architecture. It may seem cliché to some to mention Italian cuisine but to me it has a special quality which I discovered during a summer road trip. It began in Parma, synonymous with the famous ham and the equally famous Parmesan cheese. Each place visited could be spoken of in terms of its food, whether the Ferrarese Bread in Ferrara, the Pecorino cheeses in Pienza, wines of Montalcino, or the fresh fishes of Elba.

Read more