Stirling Prize winners beaten to prestige project
Eric Parry has won the competition to design a new ambassador’s residence for the British Embassy in Beijing.
The architect beat a strong shortlist featuring Carmody Groarke, AHMM, Feilden Clegg Bradley and the Manser Practice.
Building Design understands the winner was picked last year but had to be kept under wraps during the so-called purdah period before the election.
Tony Whitehead, director of estates at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said the brief was to create a modern residence that “provides a platform for the ambassador to project Britain’s global influence”.
He added: “To reflect the scale of our ambition in China, we are looking to provide a state-of-the-art building that will better reflect the image that Britain wants to project and help facilitate our presence in China for many years. We believe Eric and his team have the expertise and experience to help us fulfil that vision.”
David Morley, who acted as architect advisor on the RIBA competition, said: “This promises to be a significant work of architecture, marrying east with west and expressing the essence of Britishness in a progressive way.
“Happily the competition attracted some very talented architects and it will be wonderful to see Eric Parry’s winning ideas brought to fruition.”
No images have yet been released.
The five shortlisted teams were:
- Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
- Carmody Groarke
- Eric Parry Architects
- Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
- The Manser Practice
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