RIBA stirling prize 2016: newport street gallery wins

RIBA stirling prize 2016: newport street gallery designed by caruso st john architects, has won the award for the UK’s best new building. the prize, now in its 21st year, is britain’s most prestigious architecture accolade. located in vauxhall, south london, the building contains the personal art collection of damien hirst, and is the realization of the artist’s long-term ambition to share his diverse collection with a wider audience.

‘it’s rare for architects to be given the opportunity to realize a personal vision of the quality of the newport street gallery, and for that vision to have a generous public dimension,’ commented peter st john of caruso st john architects. ‘we see the building as a palace for direct, intimate and luxurious encounters with contemporary art, and we are very pleased that this award will bring more people to see this extraordinary collection.’

image © hélène binet (also main image) / all images courtesy of RIBA

measuring a total of 37,000 square feet (3,437 square meters), caruso st john’s design spans five buildings, and includes the conversion of three listed victorian structures. two additional volumes have been constructed at either end of the existing three, creating a gallery that spans half the length of the street. one of the central spaces has a height of 11 meters, while the roof of the tallest building has been specifically designed to allow for the installation of large sculptures.

image © prudence cuming associates

‘this highly accomplished and expertly detailed art gallery is a bold and confident contribution to the best of UK architecture,’ commented the RIBA judges. ‘caruso st john’s approach to conservation is irreverent yet sensitive and achieves a clever solution that expresses a poetic juxtaposition of old and new. the collection of buildings is beautifully curated, pulled together by the use of brick yet still expressive of their individuality. the playful use of LED technology gives a contemporary addition to the façade.’

image © prudence cuming associates

‘with newport street gallery, damien hirst has made an exceptional contribution to the UK’s strong history of private patronage of architecture,‘ said RIBA president jane duncan. ‘not only has damien opened up his enviable private art collection to the world, but he has commissioned a real work of art to house it in. caruso st john have created a stunningly versatile space from a number of linked buildings, with beautifully crafted staircases and superb details including tactile brick facades that blend the street externally and create a succession of wonderful gallery spaces.’

‘I believe art should be experienced by as many people as possible and I’ve felt guilty owning work that is stored away in boxes where no one can see it,’ commented damien hirst upon the museum’s opening in late 2015. ‘having a space where I can put on shows from the collection is a dream come true. newport street is an incredible space with an amazing sense of history, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for me to wear a curatorial hat for a change, I couldn’t be happier.’

see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.