Architecture awards list shops, but obviously no carbuncles

A HOUSE in the Perthshire countryside dubbed "the Shed" and a multi-storey car park are among a host of new developments that have been noted for their architectural excellence.

Supermarkets, shops and an observatory were also among 97 British buildings to win the annual Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) gong.

In the wake of the Prince of Wales informing Britain's leading architects that communities should focus on the needs of locals, Riba said the industry was in good shape.

Drummond House, known as "the Shed" near Meigle, was designed by Graeme Hutton, dean of the Dundee School of Architecture, and his late colleague David Jamieson.

Two storage barns already existed on the site and formed the key conceptual idea for the project which resulted in a one-and-a-half storey barn and linked garage with workshops and studio above.

Sunand Prasad, from Riba, said: "The Riba awards are a thermometer to indicate the state of health of British architecture and for 2009 the results are good – both quality and quantity have been maintained.

"This year's list accurately reflects both the diversity, and the workload of UK architecture, with more schools and health buildings than usual winning awards.

"It is particularly heartening to see more schemes that are about regenerating our cities, towns and countryside."

The winners will all now be shortlisted for the Riba Stirling Prize, in association with the Architects' Journal and Crystal Digital Technology, which identifies the building that has made the greatest contribution to British architecture.

The prize will be presented on Saturday, 17 October, live on Channel 4.