RIBA Stirling Prize 2018: Bloomberg by Fosters + Partners

​The European headquarters of Bloomberg, designed by Foster + Partners won this year’s Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize. The prestigious award is given to the building judged to have made the greatest contribution to British architecture each year.

The building was judged on their design vision, innovation and originality, capacity to stimulate, engage and delight occupants and visitors, accessibility and sustainability, how fit the building is for its purpose and the level of client satisfaction. The design was described as having a “restrained exterior and dynamic interior to encourage collaboration” and has pushed the boundaries of research and innovation in architecture.

At 1.1 million square feet, the European Bloomberg HQ occupies a whole block in the City and currently provides a workplace for 4,000 staff. It comprises of two buildings that sit amongst three new public spaces and are connected by a bridge. The public arcade reinstates an ancient Roman road, which originally ran through the site. The complex scheme provides access to the Bank Underground station, cafes and restaurants, as well as a museum displaying the Roman Temple of Mithras, which was discovered on the site 60 years ago. It is the largest stone building in the City of London since St. Paul’s Cathedral and has been credited as the most sustainable office building in the world.

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European Headquarters for Bloomberg, winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize 2018.

RIBA President, Ben Derbyshire, commented: “After vigorous debate, the jury reached a unanimous decision – Bloomberg’s new European HQ is a monumental achievement. The creativity and tenacity of Foster + Partners and the patronage of Bloomberg have not just raised the bar for office design and city planning, but smashed the ceiling.”

Watch the full video on the Bloomberg HQ:

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This year’s shortlist of six also included a Jewish cemetery constructed using rammed earth walls (Bushey Cemetery); a small budget yet high-quality student housing for Roehampton University (Chadwick Hall); a reconfiguration and extension of the Post-Modern Tate St Ives (New Tate St Ives); a contemporary community centre for the new residents of North West Cambridge (Storey’s Field Centre and Eddington Nursery); and a theatre for Worcester College Oxford (Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre).

RIBA also announced the 2018 Stephen Lawrence Prize, which was awarded to Old Shed New House. Designed by Tonkin Liu, the building was a radical transformation of a farm shed into a sustainable new home. The Stephen Lawrence Prize encourages new and experimental architectural talent, rewarding projects with a construction budget of less than £1 million.

2018 Stephen Lawrence Prize: Old Shed New House by Tonkin Liu