The Carbuncle Cup is an architecture prize, given annually, originally by the magazine ''

Building Design Building design, also called architectural design, refers to the broadly based architectural, engineering and technical applications to the design of buildings. All building projects require the services of a building designer, typically a licen ...

'', and since 2024 by ''The Fence'', to "the ugliest building in the United Kingdom completed in the last 12 months". It was intended to be a humorous response to the prestigious

Stirling Prize The Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize is a British prize for excellence in architecture. It is named after the architect James Stirling, organised and awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The ...

, given by the

Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...

History

First run (2006–2018)

The award was inspired by the Carbuncle Awards that Scottish architecture magazine ''Prospect'' (now '' Urban Realm''), had been presenting to buildings and areas in Scotland since 2000. The name derives from a comment in 1984 by

Charles, Prince of Wales Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, a ...

(now Charles III), an opponent of certain modernist styles and forms and a staunch defender of existing characterisations, themes and points of interest, who described Ahrends, Burton and Koralek's proposed extension of London's

National Gallery The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of more than 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The current di ...

as a "monstrous

carbuncle A carbuncle is a cluster of boils caused by bacterial infection, most commonly with ''Staphylococcus aureus'' or ''Streptococcus pyogenes''. The presence of a carbuncle is a sign that the immune system is active and fighting the infection. The ...

on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend". The cup was launched in 2006, with the first winner being Drake Circus Shopping Centre in

Plymouth Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...

by Chapman Taylor. A shortlist was announced by the periodical each year, based on nominations from the public, and usually in the same week as the

shortlist. Free voting via the magazine's website was at first used to select the winner. From 2009 onwards, a small group of critics selected the winner. The original run was last held in 2018.

Second run (2024–present)

In 2024,

Soho SoHo, short for "South of Houston Street, Houston Street", is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Since the 1970s, the neighborhood has been the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, art installations such as The Wall ...

based magazine ''The Fence'' revived the award, with the first year's award being given for buildings completed since the last award of the original run was given in 2018. The judging panel for the 2024 awards comprised: * Tim Abrahams (chair) – contributing editor, ''

Architectural Record ''Architectural Record'' is a US-based monthly magazine dedicated to architecture and interior design. Its editor in chief is Josephine Minutillo. ''The Record'', as it is sometimes colloquially referred to, is widely-recognized as an important ...

'' * Vicky Richardson – FRIBA, architectural curator * Cajsa Carlson – deputy editor, ''

Dezeen ''Dezeen'' is an online architecture, interiors and design magazine based in London, with offices in Hoxton, as well as New York City and Shanghai. History ''Dezeen'' was launched in London by Marcus Fairs at the end of November 2006. Its New ...

'' * James McLachlan – former editor, ''

Icon An icon () is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic Church, Catholic, and Lutheranism, Lutheran churches. The most common subjects include Jesus, Mary, mother of ...

'' * Lucy Watson – commissioning editor, ''

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...

'' * Dr Penny Lewis – lecturer, University of Dundee; co-founder of the Carbuncle Awards * Charlie Baker – editor, ''The Fence''

Winners and nominees

First run

Second run

References

{{reflist British architecture awards Ironic and humorous awards Awards established in 2006 2006 establishments in the United Kingdom Awards disestablished in 2018 2018 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Awards established in 2024 2024 establishments in the United Kingdom