Hide For Stirling?

The list of 97 contenders for the Royal Institute of British Architects' Stirling Prize 2011 has been announced and BBC Magazine has posted a slide show of a select handful (title link). This most unusual design caught my eye. Believe it or not, it's a bird hide for twitchers! The RSPB and Custom Made Wooden Buildings conceived of the hide cum reception centre to replace the old hide at RSPB's Nature Reserve at Titchwell in Norfolk. Hansom Ward Miller Architects created the award-winning design (CLICK) which puts it into contention for the Stirling Prize, to be announced on 1 October. The new hide was opened to the public in 2009, looking out on a fresh water lagoon on one side and a saltwater marsh on the other. It's aspect will have changed since this photo was shot, due to a living green roof of local wild plants.