The winner of a new generation of electricity pylons is announced
With more than 88,000 pylons in the UK and a need for new transmission infrastructure, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Department of Energy and Climate Change and National Grid called on architects, designers, engineers and students to come up with designs that balanced energy needs and visual impact
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The current design of overhead power cables
Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA
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The winner: T-Pylon by Danish company Bystrup Architecture, Design & Engineering, made from hot dip galvanized steel with a paint finish and as alternatives Cor-Ten steel, stainless steel, and hot dip galvanized without paint. It has a classic appearance and elegance, yet its starting point is a pure engineering response
Photograph: DECC
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Short listed: Flower Tower by Gustafson Porter with Atelier One, and Pfisterer. Made from painted Galvanised Steel, the judges were impressed by the elegance of the submission - it had been well developed into a contemporary, sculptural - yet technically inventive and feasible - option
Photograph: DECC
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Short listed: Plexus by Al-A with Arup. This design is made from steel or composites. The judges liked that its design is very much of its time and the panel admired the grace of this visually dynamic proposal
Photograph: DECC
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Y-Pylon by Knight Architects with Roughan & O’Donavon, and ESB International in association with MEGA. This design was short listed. Made from carbon steel, fibre reinforced Polymer (FRP), and silicon rubber. The judges liked that it was an extremely simple yet sophisticated idea, with a high degree of engineering innovation integrated into a coherent design
Photograph: DECC
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Short listed: Totem by New Town Studio, with Structure Workshop. The tower is made from steel painted and the arms are made from electrically insulating composite material, painted to match tower. The judges liked The panel enjoyed the simplicity yet sophistication of this idea. The decreasing density of structure as the pylon ascended to the sky was both logical and enjoyable, the whole effect was one of disappearance and permeability
Photograph: DECC
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Joana Rosa Guedes de Carvalho & Jose Barbedo
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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Oval Partnership Architecture Ltd
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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Silhouette by Ian Ritchie Architects and Jane Wernick Associates. Made from exposed concrete and mild steel hot dip galvanized and painted, with an exterior made from stainless clad, steel plate (2mm thick). The judges liked that the proposal was for the pylon as a sculptural object within the landscape. The overall effect and sophistication of the expression made this entry stand out aesthetically – particularly when considered in silhouette against the horizon
Photograph: DECC
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Andy Martin Architects
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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Gifford
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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Agencie Group LLC
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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Peter Mccafferty
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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Choi+Shine Architects
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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Knight Architects
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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Harrison and Mashoof Consultancy
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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Baharash Bagherian
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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Alexander Smaga
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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H and J Architecture
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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Architectural & Ruthan Gmbh
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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Make architects
Photograph: Pylon Design competition
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Chris Huhne with the pylon competition finalists and their models at the V&A museum
Photograph: DECC
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Chris Huhne with Eric Bystrup and the 'T-Pylon'
Photograph: DECC
