The Shard is among 56 buildings recognised as ‘exceptional’ by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in its annual awards revealed today.
The London Bridge Quarter tower now joins the long-list for this year’s Stirling Prize which, it was announced last week, will be sponsored by property firm Brockton Capital.
Other recent schemes rewarded with a place on the list include Queen Elizabeth Park’s London Aquatic Centre and the £188 million Library of Birmingham. The shortage of commercial developments is explained as a symptom of the economy which, until recently, meant that architects were largely reliant on civic clients.
The Shard, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano for Sellar Property Group, is praised for the “great virtues of its external appearance” which is a landmark addition to the rapidly changing London skyline.
“If the architects had illustrated every view where it appears as part of the planning process the resulting material would have filled several fat volumes,” the statement said.
The Stirling Prize shortlist will be announced on July 17 and the winner will be revealed on October 16.
