:00:00. > :00:00.evacuated. —— Typhoon Usagi. Now in BBC News a look on this year
:00:00. > :00:22.'s nominations for the building of 's nominations for the building of
:00:22. > :00:30.the year in the Stirling Prize. We have questions for you. For
:00:30. > :00:34.instance, can you really should you be able to hide a holiday home in a
:00:34. > :00:36.ruined castle? Can you give new life to 60s concert —— concrete or can
:00:36. > :00:38.you make a building invisible? The Stirling Prize has been filled with
:00:39. > :00:49.spectacular. projects that are huge,
:00:49. > :00:52.spectacular. What we are about to show
:00:52. > :00:58.have a good look at, perhaps more the six projects vying to be the
:00:58. > :01:00.have a good look at, perhaps more importantly, hear from the people
:01:00. > :01:22.who have to live with them. importantly, hear from the people
:01:22. > :01:27.It was a really heartbreaking sight. A place that had been so
:01:27. > :01:32.collapsed. There isn't anywhere in collapsed. There isn't anywhere
:01:32. > :01:38.England that was more important and England that was more important and
:01:38. > :01:42.more in jeopardy than Astley Castle. There was a fork in the road. Either
:01:42. > :01:48.we can accept that it would be gone for ever or we can take a bold leap
:01:48. > :01:53.and say letters try this new way of looking at it to try to save it. ——
:01:53. > :02:12.let us try it. It is a bold and a very unusual
:02:13. > :02:18.thing for anyone to do, to take a mediaeval castle as either we are
:02:18. > :02:23.not going to leave it to ruin, will not wear painstaking restoration,
:02:23. > :02:26.but we will do something says the building is now turning a page into
:02:26. > :02:36.a new chapter and we will get a modern architect to fill the pages
:02:36. > :02:41.of that new chapter. This is the outer courtyard of Astley Castle. It
:02:41. > :02:46.gives you a flavour of what this project is about. The old mediaeval
:02:46. > :02:50.castle, the ruined shell of it here, and then the new building that the
:02:50. > :02:56.architects built for the Landmark trust in the shell which is through
:02:56. > :02:59.here. All the living space at Astley Castle, everything other than the
:03:00. > :03:05.bedrooms and bathrooms is on the upper level. We have the seating and
:03:05. > :03:08.dining area and the kitchen area. It is a big open plan space.
:03:08. > :03:14.lovely because you can see the lovely because you can see the
:03:14. > :03:16.fantastic views out of the windows. You can see how well
:03:16. > :03:25.fantastic views out of the windows. materials and the old sit next to
:03:25. > :03:31.each other. I thought that maybe people
:03:31. > :03:36.intervention, which is quite inserted, into an old building, that
:03:36. > :03:47.it was not the right thing. We have had almost no negative feedback at
:03:47. > :03:52.all from people. Last week I marry Julie and she is American. Her
:03:52. > :04:00.family came over for the wedding. —— I marry. We thought it would be a
:04:00. > :04:04.great place for everyone to stay. From the distance, looking into the
:04:04. > :04:11.castle you can see right through and you cannot see the modern bits. It
:04:11. > :04:17.still looks like ruins. We do not want to go home. We love it. We
:04:17. > :04:24.found out yesterday that my grandma got proposed to in this room. That
:04:25. > :04:29.would have been 50 years ago. He proposed by this fire. This place
:04:29. > :04:30.used to be a hotel, they used to come to dancers here and have meals
:04:30. > :04:36.and sit by the fire. Just as we did and sit by the fire. Just as we did
:04:36. > :04:48.last night. It was great to hear that story.
:04:48. > :04:54.Seeing that it is possible to have a future for a building like this and
:04:54. > :04:58.that you do not have to walk away from it and that you can do it
:04:58. > :05:02.really imaginatively and not in from it and that you can do it
:05:02. > :05:05.slavish way it has been a really inspiring and has got lots of people
:05:05. > :05:10.thinking about what you might be able to do with a building thought
:05:10. > :05:41.What we had asked the architects for originally was a building that could
:05:41. > :05:50.move us and that would cause people to be still and to be calm and to
:05:51. > :06:13.want to just sit a while. Originally what we wanted when we
:06:13. > :06:19.selected this design was this elliptical shape which, to begin
:06:19. > :06:22.with, looked like a boat that was in the middle of the Oxford
:06:22. > :06:29.countryside. The exterior was to give us something that was rounded,
:06:29. > :06:33.a sense that it blended into the countryside and fits into the
:06:33. > :06:36.rolling hills. It does not stick out as something square or rectangular.
:06:36. > :06:47.It fits into the community in a womb It fits into the community in a womb
:06:47. > :06:51.like way. Whenever I take people in for the first time their
:06:51. > :07:04.overwhelming reaction to the chapel is that they nearly always use 13
:07:04. > :07:13.word. It is simple but very spacious. It
:07:13. > :07:26.is not fussy. The way the light is...
:07:26. > :07:33.When I first saw I thought it looked like a gasometer. It did, of course
:07:33. > :07:38.it is elliptical which adds to the difficulties of building it. At the
:07:38. > :08:03.same time, it gives you so much space. I think it is a
:08:03. > :08:05.more can you ask? The likeness of the shape, it is a shape that talks
:08:05. > :08:32.to me. This space are really is a special
:08:32. > :08:36.space for people who want to sit and contemplate the landscape. You can
:08:36. > :08:42.be here and other things can be going on and it does not matter. We
:08:42. > :08:54.wanted there to be some space where people just sit and be quiet.
:08:54. > :08:58.I hadn't realised entirely how the design would, by lifting your eyes
:08:58. > :09:04.physically, because the light is up there, I had not realised how that
:09:04. > :09:08.would create a sense of a building that lifts you spiritually. I told
:09:08. > :09:13.them in my sermon on the 1st of February when it was dedicated that
:09:14. > :09:19.it would not really be dedicated into little prayerful. It fills
:09:19. > :09:29.prayerful before it has been much prayed in. —— feels.
:09:29. > :09:54.It is an astonishing and astounding piece of
:09:54. > :09:58.It is an astonishing and astounding The causeway is the flagship for
:09:58. > :10:02.Northern Ireland. The last thing you come to see is a building that takes
:10:02. > :10:25.away from the World Heritage site. come to see is a building that takes
:10:25. > :10:30.The thing about the design, you do not see it, it is not a big thing in
:10:30. > :10:35.the landscape. It is hidden. But it still has a huge presence. You see
:10:35. > :10:40.the front part of the building a rock and, as if it is lifting out of
:10:40. > :10:49.the landscape. The only part you see is this front. We are now on the
:10:49. > :10:56.building at roof. Division of the was to return this so that the path
:10:56. > :11:05.on the cliffs turned the whole way round. So we would be Lohia. ——
:11:05. > :11:08.Lowell here. Because Western Swan made from assault. They were keen to
:11:08. > :11:16.make sure that the building was make sure that the building was made
:11:16. > :11:23.from the same material. Each column is a different size and shape and is
:11:23. > :11:31.handcart and hand placed. —— hand cart.
:11:31. > :11:35.There is no plan, route, or destination to be building. When you
:11:35. > :11:42.come here you use the whole building as a visitor experience. We cannot
:11:42. > :11:50.We would prefer them to work it out We would prefer them to work it out
:11:50. > :11:55.themselves. I am from an engineering background. I was lucky enough to
:11:55. > :12:02.all about the building when it was being built, all about the new
:12:02. > :12:08.technology going into it, and this technology has been put into
:12:08. > :12:12.practice and is working very well. Instead of thermostatic controls in
:12:12. > :12:15.for the error in the ventilation of for the error in the ventilation
:12:15. > :12:23.The heat is from heat pumps. We can the building through CO2
:12:23. > :12:31.keep the building at a constant keep the building at a constant
:12:31. > :12:32.temperature. It is temperature. It is a
:12:32. > :12:35.state—of—the—art technology which has a minimum service. It is a very
:12:35. > :12:43.efficient building. It is fantastic to see it working. The building is
:12:43. > :12:48.very modern and up—to—date. The finished product is absolutely
:12:48. > :12:52.amazing. It is great that Northern Ireland have something to provide,
:12:52. > :12:57.not just for the local people but for visitors. It is an amazing place
:12:57. > :13:01.to work. There are people who love it and those who do not like it. It
:13:01. > :13:05.landscape and then it just ends. It landscape and then it just ends. It
:13:05. > :13:17.is laid out nicely, it is comfortable. A lot of criticism, but
:13:17. > :13:26.I think it looks great. It did not make me think anything. I was good
:13:26. > :13:28.with it. We waited a long time for something. This is a mash of
:13:28. > :13:31.everything. To have everything. To have something
:13:31. > :13:38.world—class like this actually on the site, I think it is brilliant.
:13:38. > :13:43.It brings it all together. This is moving forward for Northern Ireland.
:13:43. > :13:44.This is our time. When you see the people it is fantastic. It is
:13:44. > :14:12.showing a part of the world off. showing a part of the world off. ——
:14:12. > :14:12.our part of the world. People tend to react very positively
:14:12. > :14:28.or negatively. The concept or negatively. The concept of
:14:28. > :14:50.quality spaces. There is a real scenario of housing. It
:14:50. > :14:50.quality spaces. There is a real inside/outside feel. There is no
:14:50. > :14:55.getting away from the fact that getting away from the fact that they
:14:55. > :14:57.are high—density housing. People buy into the concept of having tight
:14:57. > :15:11.neighbour. It overcomes those neighbour. It overcomes those
:15:11. > :15:15.issues. This is our open plan living area. What I love about it is
:15:15. > :15:21.available as part of what is going on in the living room. They have
:15:21. > :15:26.levelled the outside decking. It is just another part of the living
:15:26. > :15:37.room. My bedroom is my favourite room. The double height is
:15:37. > :15:40.fantastic. Because I am Dutch, architecture is a lot more
:15:40. > :15:47.contemporary there. I wanted something with more windows. I just
:15:47. > :15:56.looking around. It was really hard to find. Even on the jury as day, it
:15:56. > :16:03.makes you a bit more uplifted. I makes you a bit more uplifted. I
:16:03. > :16:09.work from home, so I am in this house a lot. It is inspiring. We
:16:09. > :16:14.like the open plan of the house. We like the open plan of the house.
:16:14. > :16:24.liked all of the windows. Your liked all of the windows. Your
:16:24. > :16:30.fillets or an adult of area. You'll notice that the row houses next
:16:30. > :16:36.year. No one is in a straight line. You are not looking at your window
:16:36. > :16:47.and seeing a walled in the same way. To come
:16:47. > :17:03.are identical and together, it has a are identical and together, it has a
:17:03. > :17:08.holiday village feel to it. Think we properly appreciated the reception
:17:08. > :17:15.we received. Because it is striking images people see, they feel like
:17:15. > :17:18.they want to come and see it. It makes you feel better to live in a
:17:18. > :17:29.house that you love and you are proud of. This house to scribes who
:17:29. > :17:31.we are as a family, open, outgoing, the family and house comes each
:17:31. > :18:00.other. —— this house describes. It is concrete, it is brutalist, and
:18:00. > :18:18.it is hard line. How on earth can you find a solution for its? It was
:18:18. > :18:22.of a hill. We have reimagine it is a of a hill. We have reimagine it is a
:18:22. > :18:32.castle in parkland. When the of a hill. We have reimagine it is a
:18:32. > :18:34.building was first built, it building was first built, it
:18:34. > :18:43.loved it. It was reported in papers, loved it. It was reported in papers,
:18:43. > :18:48.it got loads of coverage. Park Hill is home to 3000 people. Local buses
:18:48. > :18:49.are lifts that carry your two are lifts that carry your two
:18:49. > :18:59.streets in the air. are lifts that carry your two
:18:59. > :19:09.building. There was a big? About what to do it. Our job is to re—
:19:09. > :19:14.imaginings, this Mac reimagine it and find out how people become
:19:14. > :19:19.excited about it. I am a resident here at Park Hill. I have a two
:19:19. > :19:27.bedroom flat. This is my reception area. This is the larger of the two
:19:27. > :19:31.bedrooms. The living room space itself, we have concrete walls will
:19:31. > :19:41.stop on the other side we have full height windows. The kitchen area is
:19:41. > :19:47.quite neat and compact. Now we can allow all the fresh air into the
:19:47. > :19:56.apartment. The lots of different aspects, it is a mixed tenancy.
:19:56. > :20:01.There is a level of ownership, people who want to live here and
:20:01. > :20:08.take control of their environments. We love the apartment. We need to
:20:08. > :20:13.give the building and outward give the building and outward
:20:13. > :20:18.expression of confidence. That is why you see the coloured panels. It
:20:18. > :20:24.is a very crisp new dimension to the building. One of the big things was
:20:24. > :20:29.to create more activity on the site. All of the lower floors are now
:20:29. > :20:34.commercial space. We started attract creative businesses. That is
:20:34. > :20:39.important in bringing animation to be site. We were the first
:20:39. > :20:44.commercial company to coming here. We have been here for five months.
:20:44. > :20:54.look and feel of the place, the fact look and feel of the place,
:20:54. > :20:54.it is not unique —— it is unique. Also the Reef decide to wear our
:20:55. > :21:07.elsewhere are fascinated that we are based in this building. Some people
:21:07. > :21:19.do not like Park Hill, and they never will. Not everybody needs to
:21:19. > :21:26.like it. We have had people who like it. We have had people who were
:21:26. > :21:32.very opposed to the building being maintained. I think it is a great
:21:32. > :22:01.impact. It makes you feel very
:22:01. > :22:07.professional, it makes you feel cutting edge. It makes you feel
:22:07. > :22:09.innovative. It makes you feel that to be a graduate as Limerick, you
:22:09. > :22:18.are at the top. We are in are at the top. We are in the
:22:18. > :22:21.northern campus of the University of Limerick. The residential Plaza
:22:21. > :22:25.hair. There are a number of hair. There are a number of
:22:25. > :22:28.buildings that define the Plaza. buildings that define the Plaza.
:22:28. > :22:34.There is the new medical school building which houses the entry
:22:34. > :22:37.residences to house students residences to house students
:22:37. > :22:43.writer is a concrete structure that writer is a concrete structure that
:22:43. > :22:56.the Plaza. When we saw the building the Plaza. When we saw the building
:22:56. > :23:00.building, people do talk about the building, people do talk about the
:23:00. > :23:14.wow factor. I think it was certainly that. He has sticking up on my neck,
:23:14. > :23:18.that is the feeling everyone had. What we have is a four story
:23:18. > :23:21.between lecture theatres. On the between lecture theatres. On the
:23:21. > :23:32.first floor, that is problem —based learning, tutorial
:23:33. > :23:39.rooms. On the second floor, as well you focus on clinical and anatomical
:23:39. > :23:42.studies. We travelled far and wide to work out what was required. It
:23:42. > :23:46.works very well, it is very works very well, it is very
:23:46. > :23:49.adaptable. This is the top floor that has research space. It has
:23:49. > :24:00.standard high specification equipment, benches, centrifuges, all
:24:00. > :24:04.of this. It is a wonderful setting. As soon as you walk in you feel like
:24:04. > :24:11.you are part of something bigger. When you start up as a student,
:24:11. > :24:15.you're not qualified yet, you have a hunger to become a doctor. The
:24:15. > :24:16.building makes you feel like you are on your way. It is an inspiring
:24:16. > :24:25.place. We were always conscious from place. We were always conscious from
:24:25. > :24:30.the beginning of we were on a tight budget. It is a public building. I
:24:30. > :24:36.think everybody who sit around the table and designed the building were
:24:36. > :24:43.conscious that the money had to conscious that the money had to be
:24:43. > :24:50.put to the best possible use. All the students live in these three
:24:50. > :25:00.buildings. Each apartment has four bedrooms. A really good study area.
:25:00. > :25:03.The mess we're in main living area, it has chilled function. We do our
:25:03. > :25:09.cooking and relaxing. It is great cooking and relaxing. It is great
:25:09. > :25:14.fantastic. It makes you forget about all the study and hard work. It is
:25:14. > :25:15.fantastic. It makes you forget about not like any other college
:25:15. > :25:19.accommodation I have accommodation I have seen. It is
:25:19. > :25:32.fantastic. It is just a lovely space to be in. That is really important.
:25:32. > :25:42.fantastic. It is just a lovely space students,
:25:42. > :25:47.last year we now have an environment in which to deliver that education.
:25:47. > :25:53.It has been great price. —— great for us.
:25:53. > :25:57.So we now know how to make a castle company, how to hide a visitor
:25:57. > :26:04.centre, how to make space proud full. The heart of all of this is
:26:04. > :26:08.that issue — solving human problems. Architecture may feel like it is
:26:08. > :26:16.blighted by jargon and hyphenated concepts, but the height of all this
:26:16. > :26:22.is two questions. Does it work? Is that lifts the spirits or corrode
:26:22. > :26:23.the sole? —— does it lifts