Richard Rogers isn't the only one happy about his Stirling Prize success, a new Lighthouse Development for South Africa and Sweden calls for Architecture of Necessity.
UNITED KINGDOM
Richard Rogers' Stirling Prize win upset many punters who voted for the award's favourite - Tony Fretton's Fuglsang Kunstmuseum. Bookmaker William Hill is obviously pleased with the Maggie Centre's success, leaving bookies thousands of pounds better-off. This is the second time that Richard Rogers has defied William Hill's odds. In 2006 he designed Barajas Airport in Madrid, which went on to claim the prestigious award, despite Zaha Hadid's Phaeno Science Centre being the clear favourite.
SOUTH AFRICA
The competition-winning design for the new Agulhas Lighthouse Development near Cape Town has been revealed. Designed by Nightingale Architects, the scheme will provide a meeting point for tourists visiting South Africa's southern-most point. A cultural centre, restaurant, exhibition space, souvenir shop, vendor stalls and a picnic area will be included in the 1,650 sqm development. The coastline and a nearby shipwreck inspired the design, with timber lattices and rusted metal used on its interior.
SWEDEN
Wood 2010, an exhibition on climate, sustainable cities and wood architecture, due to begin on 9 May 2010 in Sweden, will make an international call for Architecture of Necessity. This is a demand for a new approach to architecture and construction based on sustainability and responsibility. The Virserum Art Museum is inviting architects from around the world to submit examples of Architecture of Necessity.
BERLIN
The Berlin government has announced that the 568 acres of land belonging to the former Tempelhof Airport will be transformed into a public park. The announcement is part of Berlin's $233 million redevelopment plan for the airfield. The parkland will include a softball field and existing structures will be reconfigured into exhibition and office space. Approximately 2,700 apartments will go up in new neighbourhoods along the northern and eastern sides.
SPAIN
A-cero, a Madrid based international architecture firm, has won a competition to design an academic centre that researches renewable energy sources and aims to reach the highest goals in sustainable architecture. The international competition was organised by the Commission of Education, Formation and Employment of the Murcia region in Spain.
