Rogers wins Stirling Prize

(Richard Bryant)

Contrary to speculations before last weekend's award ceremony, Richard Rogers won the most coveted prize in British architecture for his Maggie's Centre, a cancer care center in London.

Even though Rogers was the only architect shortlisted twice this year, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), which bestows the award, had issued a press release last week saying that online betting institution William Hill had placed its odds on Rogers rival Tony Fretton.

The jury's statement read: "[The center] exceeds at every level in fulfilling the most demanding of briefs: to create a sanctuary for terminally ill cancer sufferers with client Charles Jencks, whose deep conviction of architecture's power to shape our experience has led to a series of cancer care centres creating a fitting memorial to his wife Maggie.

"This quietly confident building is truly, unquestionably a haven for those who have been diagnosed with cancer. Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners' achievement is in having created a completely informal, home-like sanctuary to help patients learn to live with cancer."

Jencks, who lost his wife to the illness, already commissioned architects such as Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid to build Maggie's Centres in Scotland.

Rogers previously won the Stirling Prize in 2006 for Barajas Airport in Spain.

This year's other contestants also included:

5 Aldermanbury Square, London by Eric Parry Architects
Bodegas Protos, Spain by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Fuglsang Kunstmuseum, Denmark by Tony Fretton Architects
Kentish Town Health Centre, London by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Liverpoool One Masterplan, Liverpool by BDP

Site: www.architecture.com