Gherkin up for building 'Oscar'

The Gherkin is among 19 new London buildings and developments in the running for the Oscars of architectural prizes: the Stirling.

The winner of the award, which is announced in October, is selected from the winners of the Riba prizes for architectural excellence, to be announced today.

Nationally, 69 buildings have been given the Riba seal of approval this year. As well as the Foster Partners' Gherkin - officially called 30 St Mary Axe - the pedestrianisation of Trafalgar Square has also been named in today's list.

Riba president George Ferguson said this year's shortlist was a "remarkable selection of buildings".

Other London nominees include: the Bridge of Aspiration at the Royal Ballet School; the City Inn, Westminster; the Business Academy in Bexley; Double House in Camden; Islington's Gainsborough Studios; the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill; Gormley Studio in King's Cross; the new King's Library at the British Museum and Daniel Libeskind's Graduate Centre in Holloway. The full list of winners is available to view on website www.architecture.com.