London’s Elizabeth Line, by Grimshaw, Maynard, Equation and Atkins, has won the RIBA Stirling prize 2024 after being shortlisted in July
The Riba Stirling prize 2024 has been awarded to the London Elizabeth Line, the latest transport network in the city.
The line was named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II who passed away in 2022.
The Elizabeth Line runs from Reading to South East London
The line also passes through Heathrow and Essex. It transports 700,000 passengers on a weekday and runs over 62 miles of track and 26 miles of tunnel.
The construction of the line is an achievement in itself, having been forced to navigate through much of London’s history and turned into the largest archaeological dig in Britain.
The dig removed six million tonnes of earth and uncovered many historical artefacts, including a Tudor bowling ball and the remains of a woolly mammoth. The earth was also used to create a nature reserve in Essex.
The RIBA Stirling prize 2024 is awarded for excellence in architecture
Speaking on behalf of the RIBA Stirling Prize jury, Muyiwa Oki, RIBA president and jury chair, said: “The Elizabeth Line is a triumph in architect-led collaboration, offering a flawless, efficient, beautifully choreographed solution to inner-city transport.
“It’s an uncluttered canvas that incorporates a slick suite of architectural components to create a consistent, line-wide identity – through which thousands of daily passengers navigate with ease.
“Descending into the colossal network of tunnels feels like entering a portal to the future, where the typical commuter chaos is transformed into an effortless experience.
This is architecture of the digital age – a vast scheme that utilises cutting-edge technology to create distinctive spatial characteristics and experiences.
“It rewrites the rules of accessible public transport, and sets a bold new standard for civic infrastructure, opening up the network and by extension, London, to everyone.”
Neill McClements, partner at Grimshaw, on behalf of the line wide design team including Grimshaw, Atkins Realis, Equation and Maynard, said: “The Elizabeth Line is a piece of infrastructure that has been transformative, not only for London’s transport network but also for many people’s lives, highlighting the role design plays in elevating our every day.
It is also a recognition of the challenges that our profession faces today – the responsibility we have to rapidly respond to the climate emergency, decarbonise our cities and prioritise social and economic equity.
“We know this is only achievable through collaboration and the Stirling Prize recognises all of the design and construction teams that have come together to make the project the success that it is.”
