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This week RIBA announced the best buildings in the UK

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5 months ago

July 13, 2024

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This week RIBA announced the best buildings in the UK

This week on Dezeen, the Royal Institute of British Architects revealed the 26 winners of its 2024 National Awards, which celebrate the UK’s best new buildings.

This year’s winning projects included the redevelopment of Sheffield’s Park Hill Estate by Mikhail Riches, WilkinsonEyre’s restoration of Battersea Power Station in London and a glued-laminated temple complex in Hampshire.

The six-strong Stirling Prize shortlist will be chosen from the 24 buildings.

Some experts are beginning to cast doubt on its sustainability credentials of rammed earth

Also this week, we spoke to experts about rammed earth and the sustainability concerns around adding cement as a stabiliser.

“I’ve seen, in the UK, rammed-earth projects going into the glossy architecture mags and you think, ‘wow, that’s a beautiful looking building’,” said Tim Coleridge, MSc sustainability and adaptation programmes leader at the Centre for Alternative Technology. “But [we’re] not talking about the cement that’s gone into making that possible.”

“As soon as you’re using cement in ratios of five or 10 per cent in rammed earth, environmentally it’s not that much better than using a concrete block.”

Richard Rogers building in Colombia — Images revealed Richard Rogers-designed skyscrapers in Bogotá

In other architecture news, images were revealed of a pair of rhombus-shaped skyscrapers in Bogotá that were designed by the late Richard Rogers.

Forming part of the wider Atrio development, the completed North Tower rises to 201 metres tall and the South Tower will be the tallest building in Colombia at 268 metres when it is completed.

Streaming service Netflix announced an immersive retail, food, and entertainment experience named Netflix House, which will be based on popular series including Bridgerton, Money Heist, Stranger Things and Squid Game.

Located in malls in Texas and Pennsylvania, the experiences will feature replica sets, games, restaurants and shops that aim to bring TV show stories to life.

Vessev V-9 hydrofoil ferry — The VS-9 boat uses hydrofoil technology to reduce drag and energy consumption

Maritime transport firm Vessev developed an electric boat with retractable hydrofoils, which the firm claims reduces drag when travelling at speed and lowers energy consumption by 90 per cent.

The nine-metre-long VS-9 can transport up to 10 people at 25 knots and can be charged by existing electric charging points.

Glastonbury South Asia stage — Glastonbury’s first South Asian stage was informed by pulp sci-fi

At this year’s Glastonbury festival, set designers Shirin Naveed, Shankho Chaudhuri and Esha Sikander created a stage informed by pulp classic sci-fi films and comic books.

Designed for the festival’s first dedicated South Asian stage, an indoor dancefloor and garden was fronted by a colourful art deco-style facade, referencing the styling of Indian cinemas.