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RIBA reveals 62 projects vying to be named world's best new building

RIBA reveals 62 projects vying to be named world's best new building

A forest chapel in Japan, an oyster-shell-inspired ferry terminal in Italy and a grain silo converted into an art museum in South Africa are among the projects in the running for the second edition of the RIBA International Prize.

The Royal Institute of British Architects has released a longlist of 62 projects vying for the RIBA International Prize 2018, a biennial architecture award that aims to set a global standard for architecture.

Covering everything from small housing projects, to major new museums and office buildings, the list includes projects from 28 countries, by firms including BIGZaha Hadid Architects, Foster + Partners and Heatherwick Studio.

Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town, South Africa, by Heatherwick Studio

Dezeen is media partner for the RIBA International Prize 2018.

Other projects in the running for the award include Dorte Mandrup's sculptural extension to the Wadden Sea visitor centre, along with Ensamble Studio's large-scale contemporary sculptures set in the Montana wilderness.

Also longlisted is a library in Istanbul by Tabanlıoğlu Architects, and a nearby mosque set into terraced steps by Emre Arolat Architects.

Salerno Maritime Terminal by Zaha Hadid
Salerno Maritime Terminal, Salerno, Italy, by Zaha Hadid Architects

Rogers Stirck Harbour + Partners has two buildings on the list: a 34-storey office tower in Sydney with criss-crossed red braces, and a 50-storey tower block for a bank headquarters in Mexico City.

Japanese architect Hiroshi Nakamura is behind the forest chapel on the list, while Stefano Boeri is recognised for his tree-covered tower in Milan.

The project that was named World Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival last month is also among the nominees. The structure, created by a team from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, is a prototype for an affordable, earthquake-proof house built from rammed earth.

BBVA Bancomer Tower, Mexico City, Mexico, by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners with Legorreta + Legorreta

"The RIBA International List 2018 shines a light on the world's best new buildings and most impressive architectural talent," said RIBA president Ben Derbyshire.

"Most importantly, this significant selection of 62 projects illustrates the meaningful impact and transformative quality that well-designed buildings can have on communities, wherever they are in the world."

Vertical forest, Milan, Italy, by Boeri Studio with Studio Emanuela Borio and Laura Gatti

The RIBA International Prize was open to any registered architect in the world – not just RIBA members. All projects were eligible, regardless of size, type or budget, provided they demonstrated "visionary and innovative thinking".

A jury – including Diller Scofidio + Renfro co-founder Liz Diller and Joshua Bolchover of Rural Urban Framework – will select a shortlist from these 62 projects.

They will then visit each of these projects in person and name four finalists, before an overall winner is announced in November 2018.

Wadden Sea Centre, Ribe, Denmark, by Dorte Mandrup

The first edition of the prize was won by Grafton Architects, with their vertical campus for a Peruvian University.

Described by judges as a "modern-day Machu Picchu", the Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología (UTEC) was praised as an exceptional example of civil architecture.

Explore the entire longlist here:


8 Chifley Square, Sydney, Australia, by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners with Lippmann Partnership
› AP House Urbino, Pieve di Cagna, Italy, by Gardini Gibertini Architects
Audain Art Museum, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, by Patkau Architects
Baan Huay Sarn Yaw - Post Disaster School, Chiang Rai, Thailand, by Vin Varavarn Architects
Baitasi House of the Future, Beijing, China, by Dot Architects
BBVA Bancomer Tower, Mexico City, Mexico, by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners with Legorreta + Legorreta
› Beyazıt State Library, Istanbul, Turkey, by Tabanlıoğlu Architects
› Bremer Landesbank Headquarters, Bremen, Germany, by Caruso St John Architects
Bundner Kunstmuseum Chur, Chur, Switzerland, by Barozzi Veiga
› Cabbage Tree House, Bayview, Australia, by Peter Stutchbury Architecture

Beyazıt State Library, Istanbul, Turkey, by Tabanlıoğlu Architects

› Captain Kelly's Cottage, Tasmania, Australia, by John Wardle Architects
Central European University - Phase 1, Budapest, Hungary, by O'Donnell + Tuomey with M-Teampannon Kft
› Children Village, Formoso do Araguaia, Brazil, Alephzero with Rosenbaum
› City Hall Deventer, Deventer, Netherlands, by Neutelings Riedijk Architecten
› Cluny Park Residences, Singapore, by SCDA
› Cuernavaca House, Mexico City, Mexico, by Tapia McMahon
Empower, Khayelitsha, South Africa, by Urban-Think Tank, ETHZ
› EY Centre, Sydney, Australia, by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp
› Factory In The Forest, Penang, Malaysia, by Design Unit Sdn Bhd with Chin Kuen Cheng Architect
Garden Tower, Wabern, Switzerland, by Buchner Bründler Architekten

Structures of Landscape, Fishtail, Montana, United States of America, by Ensamble Studio

› GS1 Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal, by PROMONTORIO
Joolz, Amsterdam, Netherlands, by Space Encounters Office for Architecture
› Kannikegaarden, Ribe, Denmark, by Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter
Kericho Cathedral, Kericho, Kenya, by John McAslan + Partners with Triad Architects
› King Fahad National Library, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, by Gerber Architekten
Kunstmuseum Basel, Basel, Switzerland, by Christ & Gantenbein
› Lanka Learning Center, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, by Feat Collective
M4 Metro Line Budapest, Budapest, Hungary, by Palatium Studio, with Budapesti Építőművészeti Műhely, Gelesz és Lenzsér Építészeti, Puhl és Dajka Építész Iroda, sporaarchitects, VPI Építész Studio and Palatium M4 Projekt
MAAT, Lisbon, Portugal, by AL_A
› Maersk Tower, extension of the Panum complex at the University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, by CF Møller Architects
› Mount Herzl Memorial Hall, Jerusalem, Israel, by Kimmel Eshkolot Architects in collaboration with Kalush Chechick Architects

Sayama Forest Chapel in Japan by Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP
Sayama Forest Chapel, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan, by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP

› Msheireb Museums, Doha, Qatar, by John McAslan + Partners
› Mulan Weichang Visitor Centre, Weichang, China, by HDD
Musee d'arts de Nantes, Nantes, France, by Stanton Williams
› Museum Voorlinden, Wassenaar, The Netherlands, by Kraaijvanger Architects
› National Design Centre, Singapore, by SCDA
› Oasia Hotel Downtown, Singapore, by WOHA Architects
Post-earthquake reconstruction demonstration project of Guangming Village, Zhaotong City, China, by One University One Village Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
› Queen Elisabeth Hall, Antwerp, Belgium, by SimpsonHaugh, with Bureau Bouwtechniek
› ROGIC ROKI Global Innovation Centre, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan, by Tetsuo Kobori Architects
Salerno Maritime Terminal, Salerno, Italy, by Zaha Hadid Architects with Interplan Seconda

Palestinian Museum Heneghan Peng
The Palestinian Museum, Birzeit, Palestine, by Heneghan Peng Architects with Arabtech Jardaneh

Sancaklar Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey, by EAA-Emre Arolat Architecture
Sayama Forest Chapel, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan, by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP
› Social Housing in Bairro Padre Cruz, Lisbon, Portugal, by Orange - Arquitectura e Gestão de Projecto with Bruno Silvestre Architecture and D Sul
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Athens, Greece, by Renzo Piano Building Worskhop with BETAPLAN
Structures of Landscape, Fishtail, Montana, United States of America, by Ensamble Studio
› Studio Dwelling at Rajagiriya, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Palinda Kannangara Architects
Suzhou Chapel, China, by Neri&Hu Design and Research Office
› Tatsumi Apartment House, Tokyo, Japan, Hiroyuki Ito Architects
› The Ancient Church of Vilanova de la Barca, Spain, by AleaOlea architecture&landscape
The Palestinian Museum, Birzeit, Palestine, by Heneghan Peng Architects with Arabtech Jardaneh

Kericho Cathedral by John McAslan
Kericho Cathedral, Kericho, Kenya, by John McAslan + Partners with Triad Architects

› Three Metro Stations L9, Barcelona, Spain, by Garcés-de Seta-Bonet Arquitectes with TEC 4 Ingenieros Consultores
Tirpitz, Blåvand, Denmark, by BIG
› Toho Gakuen School of Music, Tokyo, Japan, by Nikken Sekkei
› Tolsa 61, Mexico City, Mexico, by MOCAA Arquitectos
› University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Vertical forest, Milan, Italy, by Boeri Studio with Studio Emanuela Borio and Laura Gatti
Wadden Sea Centre, Ribe, Denmark, by Dorte Mandrup
› Welcome Centre and office building, Shanghai, China, by Sergison Bates Architects
Xiao Jing Wan University, Shenzhen, China, by Foster + Partners with GDI
› YKK80 Building, Tokyo, Japan, by Nikken Sekkei
Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town, South Africa, by Heatherwick Studio with Van Der Merwe Miszewski Architects, Rick Brown Associates and Jacobs Parker