The AJ100 survey, organized by The Architects’ Journal magazine, polled 135 of the leading commercial design practices in the UK asking for nominations for the best single project completed in 2008. 

Terminal 3 at Beijing International Airport, designed by Foster + Partners, was one of five projects shortlisted for the prize, and ultimately selected as the winner by a unanimous decision from a panel of expert judges. 

The judges were impressed by the airport’s elegant form and light-filled interior, which will create a memorable and inspiring environment for the 50 million passengers who will travel through the terminal by 2020.

The jury felt that the new terminal building incorporates subtle references to Chinese architectural traditions, giving it a strong sense of place. Integrated public transport and short walking distances for passengers have also been carefully addressed in the design, and the jury also recognized the challenge of delivering such a technically complex building in this location.

The other shortlisted projects nominated for “Building of the Year” were St Mary Magdalene Academy, London by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios; 13b Paradise Street, Liverpool by Allies and Morrison; Haileybury Almaty School, Almaty, Kazakhstan by HOK/HOK Sport; and St Martin-in-the-Fields, London by Eric Parry Architects. 

The judging panel included Ruth Reed, RIBA President; Lynne Sullivan, architect and founder of SustainableBYDesign; Kieran Long, editor-in-chief, The Architects’ Journal and Architectural Review; and Hattie Hartman, sustainability editor, The Architects’ Journal.

The AJ100 is the authoritative annual barometerfor the state of the UK’s architectural sector, with the majority of UK practices submitting data on their performance in the last 12 months, and more than six hundred registered architects responding to the industry survey. 

The data submitted into the AJ100 rankings provides a clear snapshot of the performance of the sector, with awards presented based upon findings from the data and nominations made by senior architects and industry observers. 

Categories and winners included:

- Highest First-Time Entrant - Watkins Gray International

- Practice of the Year - Darling Associates

- International Practice of the Year - Woods Bagot

- Fastest Growing Practice - Taylor Young

- Employer of the Year - Chapman Taylor

- Contribution to the Profession - Ken Livingstone, former Mayor of London

- Most Sustainable Practice - Sheppard Robson

- Building of the Year - Beijing International Airport (Foster + Partners)

 

Regional prizes were also awarded to the following practices:

- Midlands - Archial Architects

- North East & Yorkshire - HLM Architects

- North West - Purcell Miller Tritton

- Northern Ireland - TODD Associates

- Scotland - Cooper Cromar

- South East and London - Scott Brownrigg

- South West - Capita Architecture

- Wales - Holder Mathias Architects

 

The AJ100 Awards took place on Wednesday 27th May at Canary Wharf, London.  The AJ100 is organised by The Architects’ Journal magazine, published by Emap» (CS di AJ100). 

Nelle immagini: l’Aeroporto di Pechino (credits: Nigel Young Foster + Partners)