The 2004 Award for Building in an Historic Context, awarded by RIBA London and English Heritage has gone to "World Squares for all: Trafalgar Square and its environs". The Foster and Partners project beat off competition from five other RIBA award winners in Greater London to take the prize.
The announcement was made at the RIBA London Awards presentation on 8 September 2004. Baroness Sally Hamwee, Deputy Chair of the London Assembly and Vice President of the Town &Country Planning Association, presented the award-winning team with their certificates.
Sally Hamwee read the jury citation for Trafalgar square, saying: "The sense of continuity combined with contemporary details of material substance is commendable in such a central London square that we all know and love. This project demonstrates a strong contribution from all parties: the architect, Westminster planners, English Heritage and the GLA."
Adding a personal comment, Sally Hamwee said: "The taxi drivers may not like it but I certainly do. Can the architecture profession please do something similar for that other World Square, Parliament Square?"
Jury Member Paul Velluet, Regional Architect and Assistant Regional Director, English Heritage London Region said: "Successful urbanism relies on a fusion of conservation-led regeneration of historic buildings and areas and also successful new developments in historic contexts. This year, there was no shortage of recently completed schemes in London eligible for the joint RIBA/ English Heritage Award.
Adding a personal comment, Paul Velluet said: "The winning project, the first phase of 'The World Squares for All', has transformed and enlivened the role, function and accessibility of one of the country's best known and historically significant urban spaces with a series of related and substantial changes that are radical in concept, but sensitive to context."
The judges for the award were Simon Foxell (Chairman, RIBA London), Paul Velluet (English Heritage), Jamie Fobert (Jamie Fobert Architects), Andrew Taylor (Patel Taylor) and Mary Thum (Mary Thum Architects).
