The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has announced the shortlist for the 2019 RAIC International Prize for socially transformative architecture. A six-member jury chose a university building in Peru, an artists' residence and cultural center in Senegal, and a Baha'i Temple in Chile. The prize winner will be unveiled at a gala in Toronto, Canada on October 25, 2019.
The RAIC received submissions from 12 countries across six continents. 2019 marks the third edition of the biennial prize, which was founded in 2013 and is open to architects from anywhere in the world.
"We see in these exceptional buildings how architecture can strengthen community, bring together diverse peoples, lift the spirit, and exist in harmony with the environment," commented RAIC President Michael Cox, FRAIC. "Each of these projects offers lessons that can be applied elsewhere, and we hope they will inspire architects around the world as they design for human well-being."
"The jury was struck by the diversity of these designs, from the inverted traditional Senegalese roof that serves as a water collector, to the unique glass-and-marble winged roof that fills the temple with light," added Jury Chair Diarmuid Nash, PP/FRAIC. "These architects have come up with unique and innovative strategies by listening to the needs of their communities."
Photo: doublespace photography