2017 Carbuncle Cup
On 6th September 2017, Building Design awarded the dubious honour of the Carbuncle Cup for 2017 to London’s Nova Victoria.
The Carbuncle Cup is an annual 'prize' awarded to the ugliest UK building completed in the last 12 months. A shortlist is compiled from public nominations, and the winner decided by a panel of critics.
Nova Victoria’s victory makes it the sixth consecutive year that London has received the award. It was designed by PLP Architecture.
The development is a bright red £380 million office and residential complex, occupying an entire block opposite the redeveloped Victoria Station. With a pointed peak that reaches 18 storeys-high, the building incorporates a sheer face of red glass criss-crossed with aluminium bracing. Around the side of the 'red wedge' runs a screen of aluminium fins, cut with rippled profiles. At ground level, these aluminium fins form a series of serrated openings.
The project was granted approval in 2009 and was the biggest consent Westminster Council had ever awarded, although the concept was drastically scaled back from its original high-rise intentions.
Awarding the prize, the judges described it as 'one of the worst office developments central London has ever seen', and one that 'sets a new benchmark for dystopian dysfunction'.
The other shortlisted projects that were beaten by Nova Victoria were as follows:
Preston Railway Station Butler Street Entrance, Preston, by AHR
[Photograph © Paul Melling.]
Park Plaza London Waterloo, London, by ESA Architecture
[Photograph © Alex Upton.]
Greetham Street Student Halls, Portsmouth, by Cooley Architects
8 Somers Road, Malvern, by Vivid Architects
Circus West, Battersea Power Station, London, by Simpson Haugh
[Images courtesy of Building Design.]
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Climate Emergency Retrofit Guide
LETI publishes guidance for energy efficient home retrofits.
The new normal for ventilation
Predictions about adequate post-pandemic IAQ in non-domestic buildings.
Government publishes plans to 'build back greener'.
Fire safety exclusions and insurance
The contentious nature of claims associated with cladding, fire safety and EWS1 forms.
ECA comments on low-carbon heating systems initiative and Heat and Buildings Strategy.
Victorian dust heaps of London
Cinders and other forms of domestic rubbish created filth but also generated great wealth.
Young professionals in construction survey
CIC 2050 Group requests input to find out priorities for future industry leaders.
Conservation Principles for North Ireland
IHBC publishes response to consultation.
Budget 2022 - CIOB Ireland responds
Institute applauds funding initiatives but presses for additional retrofit and tax measures.