Causeway In Line For RIBA Prize

The visitor centre at the Giant's Causeway has been shortlisted for the annual Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize.

The centre, at the location of the famous Antrim Coast formation, was designed by Heneghan Peng Architects for the National Trust.

Along with the Visitor Centre, the shortlist includes Park Hill Phase 1, Sheffield by Hawkins\Brown, Newhall Be, Harlow by Alison Brooks Architects, Astley Castle, Warwickshire by Witherford Watson Mann Architects, the University of Limerick Medical School by Grafton Architects and Bishop Edward King Chapel, Oxfordshire by Niall McLaughlin Architects.

The RIBA has described the Giants Causeway Vistor Centre as "elegant" and "powerful".

It said: "Visitor centres are hard to do; this one serves as shop, café and exhibition without any one function overpowering what is a simple, telling piece of architecture.

"This elegant, powerful visitor centre appears to be born of its place; the irregular lines of basalt columns grow and recede into the landscape to form the building edges, with the building roof a part of the dramatic landscape.

"Visitor centres are normally self-effacing buildings, fulfilling the needs of visitors while being careful not to draw the limelight away from their main attraction. This one pulls of that difficult trick of being a destination

venue in its own right without upstaging the principal event – the centre is invisible from the causeway, which is set one kilometre apart.

"The internal space is made from a large concrete soffit with slices of roof lights and slots between the basalt allowing natural light deep into the centre."

The judges will be looking for "original, imaginative and well executed designs, which excellently meet the needs of their users."

"The shortlisted and winning buildings reveal the pinnacle of current architectural talent – buildings that on all fronts and in every detail inspire those who use and meet them," a statement from RIBA said.

(IT/CD)