The results are in. The Fence has found a winner for the Carbuncle Cup, crowning what we believe to be the very worst new building in Britain to be opened since 31 August 2018, the last time the award was handed out. The buildings were nominated by the public and then judged by a panel of experts.
Their shortlist selection, narrowed from 50 final entries, reflect a range of developments from across the country which, taken as a whole, epitomise Britain’s architectural malaise. Entries were assessed not only for their design flaws and lack of utility, but also for their wastefulness in construction, their impact on the urban environment around them – and, of course, their hideousness.
Below are the six buildings shortlisted for The Fence’s 2024 Carbuncle Cup – and at the end you will find the winner. Our commendations to all of the firms involved, as well as the planners, politicians, value engineers and clients who supported them along the way.
THE SHORTLIST
W Hotel, Edinburgh
Jestico + Whiles, 2023
Public nomination:
‘Literally a dump on the city of surreal dreams, an imaginative catheter failure… It’s quite literally shit.’– Paddy Lynch, via Instagram
