31/07/2008 01:36:00
It's been announced that two Liverpool buildings have been shortlisted for first World Architecture Festival Awards.
Liverpool's new Arena and Convention centre and the old, refurbished Bluecoat arts centre are both competing for the international architectural award which pits structural achievements of the past 18 months against one another.
Across the globe, a total of 224 buildings from 43 countries have been shortlisted. The UK's offerings include Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre near Inverness, Manchester Civil Justice Centre, the RSPB Environment and Education Centre at the Thames estuary, east London, The Dairy House in Herefordshire and John Wheatley College in Glasgow.
As the current European Capital of Culture, Liverpool has a lot to live up to - and its cultural status has certainly helped it do so. Reports in April showed a 30 per cent boost in visitors to the city following the title award.
Alongside the other entries, Liverpool will present the Bluecoat and the Arena and Convention Centre during the World Architecture Festival, which is being held in Barcelona on 22-24 October. The last day will see finalists from various categories spanning from health centres and offices to private homes and religious buildings compete for the World Building of the Year 2008 award.
The Guardian reports that the editor of the Architectural Review and programme director of the World Architecture Festival, Paul Finch, said: "This shortlist provides a true indicator of the quality and diversity of architectural design worldwide.
"Each of the projects has been selected for its aesthetic quality as well as for the way in which it takes the economic, social and environmental needs of the clients and communities into consideration. Any of them could win, irrespective of their scale."
