The news is in! The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has just announced the winner of the 2016 Stirling Prize: the Newport Street Gallery by Caruso St. John Architects. Considered to be the most prestigious prize in the United Kingdom, the Stirling is awarded to a British architect whose building “has made the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture in the past year”, and comes with a stipend of £20,000. This is the first time that Caruso St. John has won the Stirling Prize, although they've been nominated twice before.

The Newport Street Gallery was chosen from a shortlist of six buildings: the Blavatnik School of Government by Herzog & de Meuron; the City of Glasgow College by Michael Laird Architects, and Reiach and Hall Architects; Outhouse by Loyn and Co. Architects; Trafalgar Place by dRMM Architects; and Weston Library by WilkinsonEyre.

Located in Vauxhall, the Newport Street Gallery houses the collection of artist Damien Hirst. It is the only project on the shortlist to work so closely with the existing, adjacent buildings; three refurbished Victorian structures were connected to new buildings with striking, sawtooth roofs. A large LED sign beckons passers-by, including passing train commuters.

"Caruso St John have created a stunningly versatile space from a number of linked buildings, with beautifully crafted staircases and superb details including tactile brick facades that blend the street externally and create a succession of wonderful gallery spaces," states RIBA President Jane Duncan in the press release. "This project exemplifies the best of UK architecture – a highly considered and creative project that brings to life a previously-unloved pocket of the city. I am delighted to present architects Caruso St John with the 2016 RIBA Stirling Prize."

The judges commented:

"This highly accomplished and expertly detailed art gallery is a bold and confident contribution to the best of UK architecture. Caruso St John’s approach to conservation is irreverent yet sensitive and achieves a clever solution that expresses a poetic juxtaposition of old and new."

"The collection of buildings is beautifully curated, pulled together by the use of brick yet still expressive of their individuality. The playful use of LED technology gives a contemporary addition to the facade."

"Internally, the five buildings are connected as a continuous and coherent sequence of light filled gallery spaces. The simple and logical circulation is enlivened by exquisitely detailed and sensuous staircases."

"The gallery, which is free of charge, is a generous asset to an evolving community."

Peter St John, Partner, Caruso St John Architects said, "It's rare for architects to be given the opportunity to realise a personal vision of the quality of the Newport Street Gallery, and for that vision to have a generous public dimension. We see the building as a palace for direct, intimate and luxurious encounters with contemporary art, and we are very pleased that this award will bring more people to see this extraordinary collection."

The last five practices to win the Stirling Prize are Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Haworth Tompkins, Witherford Watson Mann Architects, Stanton Williams, and Zaha Hadid Architects. Past winners also include Richard Rogers Partnership, David Chipperfield Architects, Foster and Partners, and Herzog & de Meuron.