Metrospective Stirling prize 2006

Richard Rogers has bagged two nominations on the shortlist for the Stirling Prize 2006, giving him a strong chance of winning the one honour that has so far eluded him.

Rogers’ controversial National Assembly for Wales building has been nominated — a first for the country traditionally associated with mediocre architecture — as well as his critically acclaimed Madrid Barajas airport. Despite his prolific output, political influence and high public profile, Rogers has never won the most prestigious prize in British architecture. He has been shortlisted three times — for the Lloyd’s Register of Shipping in 2002; 88 Wood Street in London in 2000; and the Paul Hamlyn Learning Resource Centre in 1997. Rival Norman Foster, who has scooped the gong twice and has eight shortlisted schemes under his belt, is not on this year’s list. Other buildings on the list, revealed exclusively in BD, include Zaha Hadid’s Phaeno Science Centre in Wolfsburg; Hopkins’ Evelina Hospital in London; Adjaye Associates’ Idea Store in Whitechapel; and Caruso St John’s Brick House in London. The bookies’ favourite for the prize, which will be awarded in London’s Roundhouse, newly restored by John McAslan, is likely to be Hadid’s Phaeno Centre. It was widely felt that Hadid was robbed of last year’s prize, which went to Enric Miralles and RMJM’s Scottish Parliament rather than her BMW Central Building in Leipzig. As usual, the shortlist is not without controversy. The Welsh Assembly, also on this year’s Better Public Building shortlist, has been dogged by problems. It cost three times its original budget and was first due to be completed in 2002. The Evelina hospital also came under fire during this summer’s heat wave when patients recorded sweltering temperatures of up to 32°C inside the building. Hotly tipped schemes from the long list that have missed out on a place include Peter Barber’s Donnybrook housing development and Sauerbruch Hutton’s Federal Environment Agency in Dessau, Germany. The judges, who include agony aunt Mariella Frostrup and architect Eric Parry, will visit the buildings in the coming months to make their decision in time for the star studded awards ceremony in October, which will be televised by Channel 4. The RIBA will officially announce the shortlist on August 31. (Txt Ellen Bennett www.bdonline.co.uk)