News: Grimshaw architects' steel and glass cocoon containing the historic Cutty Sark tea clipper has been named the ugliest new building in the UK, with a juror describing it as "the final death of High-Tech as a design language worthy of respect."
The London architects led the restoration of the historic vessel, raising it three metres above its dry dock to create an exhibition hall below.
The project won Building Design magazine's Carbuncle Cup ahead of five other shortlisted buildings, including the Titanic Belfast museum and the ArcellorMittal Orbit at the Olympic Park.
"The Cutty Sark scheme represents an outlay of £50 million of largely public money and has mutilated one of the world’s most significant historic ships," said BD's exectutive editor Ellis Woodman, one the judges.
Columnist Owen Hatherley was also on the judging panel and said "the worst thing about it is the glass pool into which the ship is plunged, and the infantile raising of the ship beneath. It offers more 'wow' to the paying spectator, but while before a passer-by could look at the ship, now they have it blocked by this clumsy, faceted glass bulge. It's the final death of High-Tech as a design language worthy of respect."
See more images of the Cutty Sark in our earlier story »
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