The multi-award winning European headquarters for Bloomberg in London designed by Foster + Partners has won this year’s RIBA Stirling Prize, the UK’s most prestigious architecture award.

The ‘astounding’ and ‘boundary-pushing’ project was unanimously chosen by the RIBA judges for its achievement in the level of research, innovation, experimentation during the design process.

The project occupies 102,190㎡ of land, designed as two-buildings connected by a bridge over a re-established ancient Roman arcade. The exterior features hand-crafted sandstone, and over 97 types of bronze window fins. A few of these fins incorporate built-in air vents. The building houses a distinctive 210m long bronze ramp, designed as a place of impromptu conversation, meeting, and connection.

Kikukawa, as metal-craftsmen and engineers, worked closely with the project’s Stirling Prize-winning architect Foster + Partners, contractors, and other suppliers to ensure the vision, the world’s most sustainable office, was delivered. As the bronze supplier, Kikukawa provided the FURUMI (sulfurized) bronze panels, from the fins to the ramp, each displaying our metal craftsmanship and technology.

Within Kikukawa, our 3D designing technology, our cutting-edge welding technology (FSW and fiber laser welding), and the artisanal FURUMI (sulfurized) finish played a fundamental role in the realisation of the project.

The project and the collaboration ‘have not just raised the bar for office design and city planning, but smashed the ceiling’ said RIBA president Ben Derbyshire.

It is a privilege for Kikukawa to have contributed to this monumental project. Congratulations to Foster + Partners for this great achievement and your continued success.

For more information on RIBA Stirling Prize, click here

For more information on Foster + Partners, click here

For more information on Bloomberg London, click here

For more information on Kikukawa’s involvement, click here

For more information on Kikukawa’s technology, click here

Click here for the press release in PDF (Japanese):
2018.10.24 Kikukawa News Release Bloomberg London wins 2018 RIBA Stirling Prize