London, March 16 2021 – Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London is launching an architect in residence programme in an industry-first collaboration with The RIBA Journal (RIBAJ).
The competition, entitled ‘Time to Reflect’, will see the hotel invite six prestigious RIBA chartered architects (Royal Institute of British Architects) for a week-long residency, based on a proposal tendered to The RIBA Journal. It is intended to provide the winners with time to escape from the daily home-office or work routine, experiencing life from a different perspective.
A panel of judges (to be announced in April), chosen for their unique specialisations across the arts and architecture, will select the winning submissions.
During the residency, architects will have the opportunity to base themselves at the hotel, which is situated in one of London’s most recognisable architectural landmarks, The Shard, located on the banks of The Thames in Bermondsey. Upon departure, they will leave behind a piece of work – either a sketch or prose – inspired by their stay, to be displayed in the hotel’s public spaces to celebrate the programme.
“We are proud to be the first ever hotel to stage a residency of this kind for UK architectural talent. As a hotel we are excited to embark on this series over the next year and look forward to showcasing the outcomes,” said Kurt Macher, General manager at Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London.
“With people having led such atomised lives over the past year, the ‘Time to Reflect’ competition is a welcome shot in the arm for architects. A chance to explode back onto the social scene of the capital or luxuriously self-indulge from their cloud-piercing eyrie,” said Jan-Carlos Kucharek, Acting Deputy Editor of RIBA Journal.
Winners will be announced at the beginning of June, and residencies will take place at the hotel between September 2021 and September 2022.
