It’s time the Stirling loosened up

Ben Flatman

How can you possibly assess a railway station against a private house, asks Ben Flatman

The Stirling is British architecture’s “best picture” award, but the organisers need to celebrate the full diversity of what architects do.

When the stars file down the red carpet for the 92nd Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood in February they will be there to celebrate and promote the rich diversity of the (mainly) US film industry. Part of that celebration is about recognising that not all films are the same, and some types deserve special recognition.

By handing out gongs for animated picture, best documentary and various technical categories, the Oscars big up the fact that their industry isn’t about one homogenised product but, at its best, a mix of big and small projects, and talented teams striving for excellence in their specialised fields.

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