Stirling Prize shortlist includes a Jewish cemetery, an innovative office complex, among other buildings

The search for Britain's best new building is heating up with the announcement of six projects shortlisted for the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize this morning. "This shortlist illustrates why UK architects and architecture are held in such high regard around the world," said RIBA President Ben Derbyshire. "In these challenging and turbulent political times, we must celebrate how the UK’s architectural talent can help to improve local communities and their quality of life."

The final grand prize winner will be revealed on October 10 in London.

Bloomberg, London by Foster + Partners

Previous RIBA Awards: RIBA London Award 2018 and RIBA National Award 2018 

Occupying a whole block within the city, this project is a large office building to house all of Bloombergs employees under one roof for the first time. Externally the building incorporates a covered walkway all round its perimeter. There is also a new street created, carving the building into two blocks connected by bridges. Commercial units for restaurants etc. are arranged at ground level. There is an external undulation in plan described by the architect as an expression of the movement around the building. — project details

Bushey Cemetery, Hertfordshire by Waugh Thistleton Architects

Previous RIBA Awards: RIBA East Award 2018 and RIBA National Award 2018

The architects, Waugh Thistleton, have a very strong, long term relationship with the Jewish community. They have completed a number of synagogues prior to this project and the simplicity, austerity even, of the means and materials used in this project are a reflection of this mutual respect, trust and empathy. Every aspect of the building layout and progress through the landscape are in keeping with the spirit of the event. — project details

Chadwick Hall, University of Roehampton, London by Henley Halebrown

Previous RIBA Awards: RIBA London Award 2018 and RIBA National Award 2018 

The scheme is set in the grounds of the Georgian grade II* listed Downshire House which itself borders on the LCC’s Alton West Estate (grade II* listed). The brief sought 210 en-suite student bedrooms. These are provided in three new buildings. Each employs a distinct plan type - two are villas, the third a Modernist pinwheel plan. Two are paired around an existing historic sunken garden. The third lies on an axis with the sunken garden to the south of Downshire House, completing an ensemble with the House that creates a theatre for the students’ social life. — project details

New Tate St Ives, Cornwall by Jamie Fobert Architects with Evans & Shalev

Previous RIBA Awards: RIBA South West Award 2018 and RIBA National Award 2018

The extended gestation of the reconfiguration and extension of the Tate St Ives has resulted in a building with more than twice as much gallery space which resolves the functional challenges of the original building, increases the car parking provision at the top of the site and creates an enhanced public route from top to bottom of the site. The visible manifestation of the new building is minimal and modest, underplaying its impact on the interior experience for visitors and staff. — project details

Storey's Field Centre and Eddington Nursery, Cambridge by MUMA

Previous RIBA Awards: RIBA East Award 2018, RIBA East Sustainability 2018, RIBA East Building of the Year, RIBA National Award 2018

This is the very highest quality architecture. It shows how an architect can add joy, an enhanced experience of materials and human dimension to every part of a building. The spaces in the nursery are worthy of a much more sophisticated audience, but are always based around the scale and activities in each space. Where small windows are needed they are arranged in the pattern of constellations of stars (even with the correct orientation), where a decorative circular window from the enclosed garden is made out of a ventilation inlet grille, it is evidence of the skill, imagination and continuous attention to detail of the architect. This is a truly well-crafted building, where material or technology is only used where it is needed. — project details

The Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre, Worcester College, Oxford by Niall McLaughlin Architects

Previous RIBA Awards: RIBA South Award 2018 and RIBA South Building of the Year 2018, RIBA National Award 2018

The setting for this building is unbeatable. It is beside a perfectly-mown cricket pitch within the secluded, rambling and idyllic garden of one of Oxford’s most historic colleges. And there’s a lake nearby too. To not only preserve but enhance this context would require a building of assured calm and grace. It would need to use materials with a tactile gravitas and be imbued with a timelessness which would make it feel as if it had always been there and need never leave. The Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre does all this and more. — project details

Which of the six finalists is your top pick? Let us know in the comment section below.