Rubble Club winner to be announced at Roses Design Awards
Designer of the best demolished building to be recognised at The Roses Design Awards in Nottingham
Its website – www.rubbleclub.com has been buzzing as members of the public vote on a shortlist which includes a wide range of schemes from brutalist mega structures to lego houses.
People in the running for this new award include TV presenter James May, who could cause a major architectural upset by scooping the coveted trophy for the building he constructed out of Lego – and spent the night in - as part of a TV series.
However, more conventional, but equally controversial, schemes are also in the running like the brutalist Tricorn mega-centre which used to occupy the heart of Portsmouth. Celebrated by the architecture profession, but disliked by the local community, this 60s icon was the work of Owen Luder, also known as the ‘Father of British Brutalism’.
Another one of his schemes – this time a famous carpark in Gateshead – which provided a backdrop to the film Get Carter is also a contender.Another project doing well is the Southwark Tower at London Bridge, which was recently demolished to make way for The Shard, the UK’s highest profile – and just highest – new building.
Said Rubble Club founder Gordon Young, who is also editor of architecture magazine Urban Realm, “The Rubble Club aims to draw attention to the fact that too many good buildings are simply torn down. For example the Tricorn was largely replaced by an open air car park; what is the point of that?
“Re-use of current buildings is nearly almost always more sustainable than resorting to demolition. But of course the other point is to provide a self-help group for recently bereaved architects. Schemes can take years to get from inception to completion and seeing one demolished is a major blow for them.
“However, with architects living longer, and buildings increasingly becoming part of a throw away culture, more are seeing their creations being reduced to rubble.”
Added Young, “Often it is only when a building is demolished that we are jolted into opening our eyes to fully appreciate what has been lost.”
The results of the very first Rubble Club price will be announced at the Roses Design Awards in Nottingham on October 23rd. In the meantime, the public can vote for the best demolished building at www.rubbleclub.com. For tickets to the Roses Design Awards contact Kim Baran on 0141 559 6078 or email kim.baran@carnyx.com.