As every architect knows, some design ideas look good only on paper and not in reality.
The Carbuncle Cup is presented annually by the 'Building Design' magazine to the ugliest building in the United Kingdom. This prize was launched in 2006 as a humorous response to the prestigious Stirling Prize, awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects. Every year a shortlist is created and announced based on the nominations from the public. Earlier, people could cast their vote through the magazine's website to select the winner, but from 2009 onwards, a small group of critics chose the winner. Below are the five ugliest buildings in the UK that won the Carbuncle Cup.
Strata Tower, South London
At 43 stories, the Strata tower is home to over 1,000 residents and is the first-ever building with integrated wind turbines. At the time, it was the tallest building in South London, with three turbines installed on the top of the tower. The turbines provide about 8 per cent of the building's energy, but the enclosure of the wind turbine is equivalent to a five-story building. In 2010, the Strata tower beat 30 nominations to win the Carbuncle cup.
Lincoln Plaza, London
The 31 story Lincoln Plaza is a luxurious apartment boasting a private movie theatre, a health club, and a four-story winter garden for its residents. But the design of the building still irks architecture critics for its chaotic form, bilious cladding, frenzied facades, and adhesive balconies that exhibit the worst design in shambolic architecture. Lincoln Plaza bagged the Carbuncle Cup in 2016.
Drake Circus Shopping Center, Plymouth
Drake Circus Shopping Centre is the inaugural winner of the Carbuncle Cup for architectural grotesqueness. It was voted as the ugliest building in the UK in 2006. People do not like the way the shopping centre has a "slipped books" design that forms an "inadequate" backdrop to Charles Church.
The Liverpool Ferry Terminal, Liverpool
The Liverpool Ferry terminal is clad in limestone and cantilevered on both sides to complement the Liverpool Museum just next door. The building houses a Beatles museum and a rooftop restaurant and incorporates ferry operations. The ferry terminal was designed by Hamilton Architects, and it won the Carbuncle Cup in 2009.
Woolwich Central, South-east London
This supermarket complex became the worst new building in the UK in 2014 and received the Carbuncle Cup. Woolwich Central has six interconnected blocks, rising over 17 stories with 189 apartments. The jury members described Woolwich Central as “oppressive, defensive, arrogant and inept”.
Google the architectures to find out if they actually deserved the accolade of being the ugliest building in the UK.
