Senedd bid for architecture award

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The architects of the Welsh assembly's Senedd building in Cardiff are waiting to see if it will pick up one of Britain's top architecture prizes.

The Richard Rogers-designed debating chamber is up against five other buildings for the Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize.

The winner will be revealed on Saturday night.

As well as political debates, the Senedd is also hosting the makers of the new BBC series of Doctor Who.

The £67m building is competing against a children's hospital, an airport terminal, a science centre, a brick house and a library.

RIBA president Jack Pringle said the shortlist was "fascinating".

He added: "These buildings have created amazing places, popular with the people who use them while also pushing boundaries in our knowledge and understanding of architecture."

Previous winners include the "Gherkin" in the City of London, the Scottish Parliament building and Gateshead's Millennium Bridge.

STIRLING SHORTLIST Senedd building, Cardiff Richard Rogers PartnershipTerminal building at Barajas airport, Madrid <i>Richard Rogers</i> PartnershipBrick House, London, <i>Caruso St John Architects</i> Evelina Children's Hospital, London <i>Hopkins Architects</i>Idea Store, London <i>Adjaye/Associates </i>Phaeno Science Centre, Wolfsberg, Germany <i>Zaha Hadid Architects and Mayer</i>

But because the Scottish Parliament took the 2005 prize there are doubts whether a parliament building can win again this year.

Welsh architect Malcolm Parry said the award would be "political".

"It would be very difficult I think for the judges however objective to give it to another parliament building," he said.

But assembly presiding officer Dafydd Elis Thomas insisted the two buildings were very different.

He said of the Senedd: "The decision to place the debating chamber at the centre of it - it's as if the democratic secret has been opened up.

"The message is 'come in'. This is the space under the tree where people come together to discuss the future of the nation."

Despite the initial scepticism and wrangling over the course of its development, it has proved to be popular with nearly 250,000 visitors passing through its doors since it opened in March.

There is stiff competition from other high profile buildings across Europe designed by British-based architects.

The new terminal building at Madrid airport and the Evelina Children's Hospital in London are amongst the other five in the running.

'Wonderful place'

Jonathan Adams, of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales, said that the £20,000 prize is given to buildings which "have taken risks, just like this one".

The futuristic building is to be transformed into a set for the latest adventures of the Time Lord.

Lowri Thomas, series location manager, said they were looking for a modern, glamorous building and that the Senedd was "perfect".

She said: "We were very surprised when it was agreed that we could film here, especially since it's a public building."

Lord Elis-Thomas said, that like Dr Who's Tardis, "it looks small from the outside but inside it's a wonderful place to be".