{{Short description|Architecture awards}} {{distinguish|Carbuncle Cup}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Use British English|date=May 2025}} The '''Carbuncle Awards''' were architecture prizes, presented by the Scottish magazine ''Urban Realm'' (formerly ''Prospect'') to buildings and areas in Scotland intermittently from 2000 until 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles |title=Carbuncles |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-04 |archive-date=19 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519073522/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles |url-status=live }}</ref>
They were established following a discussion about why policy initiatives to improve the quality of the built environment seemed to be having so little impact beyond the centres of Scotland's key cities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2005/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2005.html |title=The Carbuncle Awards 2005 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-04 |archive-date=25 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725014745/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2005/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2005.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
The name of the awards was derived from a comment by Charles, Prince of Wales (now Charles III), an outspoken critic of modern architecture, who in 1984 described Ahrends Burton Koralek's proposed extension of London's National Gallery as a "monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2004/may/17/architecture.regeneration |title=Life after carbuncles |first=Jonathan |last=Glancey |date=17 May 2004 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-date=10 June 2023 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610055106/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2004/may/17/architecture.regeneration |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speechesandarticles/a_speech_by_hrh_the_prince_of_wales_at_the_150th_anniversary_1876801621.html |title=A speech by HRH The Prince of Wales at the 150th anniversary of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Royal Gala Evening at Hampton Court Palace |access-date=2014-09-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213205/http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speechesandarticles/a_speech_by_hrh_the_prince_of_wales_at_the_150th_anniversary_1876801621.html |archive-date=2007-09-27}}</ref>
There were three award categories: *Plook on the Plinth Award "for the most dismal town in Scotland". A "plook" is a Scottish noun for pimple. (Officially Retired) *The Pock Mark Award "for the worst planning decision". *The Zit Building Award "for the worst building completed since the last awards".
Public nominations were made via the magazine's website, with a small group of critics selecting the final winners.
Cumbernauld in North Lanarkshire won the Plook on the Plinth Award twice and was the town most frequently nominated for the award.
The Carbuncle Awards inspired the Carbuncle Cup, another architecture prize launched in 2006 which was given annually by ''Building Design'' magazine to "the ugliest building in the United Kingdom completed in the last 12 months".<ref name=bd2010>{{cite web |url=http://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/six-in-race-for-carbuncle-cup/5003099.article |title=Six in race for Carbuncle Cup |date=22 July 2010 |author=Watson, Anna |work=Building Design |access-date=2014-09-04 |archive-date=14 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414222153/https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/six-in-race-for-carbuncle-cup/5003099.article |url-status=live }}</ref> The latter went on to achieve somewhat greater prominence in the media, and was last held in 2018. In 2024, Soho based magazine ''The Fence'' revived the Carbuncle Cup award.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Carbuncle Cup 2024 |url=https://www.the-fence.com/carbuncle-cup-2024/ |website=The Fence |access-date=17 May 2025 |archive-date=21 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250521044031/https://www.the-fence.com/carbuncle-cup-2024/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Winners== '''Plook on the Plinth Award''' {| class="wikitable" style="width:80%" |- !Year !Winner !Also shortlisted |- |2000 |Airdrie |Cumbernauld, Campbeltown, Ardrossan and Balloch<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/1031037.stm |title=Dismal distinction for Airdrie |date=20 November 2000 |work=BBC News |access-date=2014-09-04}}</ref> |- |2001 |Cumbernauld |Gretna, Aviemore, Dumbarton and two areas of Edinburgh<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/1667935.stm |title=Cumbernauld wins carbuncle award |date=21 November 2001 |work=BBC News |access-date=2014-09-04}}</ref> |- |2005 |Cumbernauld<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2005/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2005.html |title=The Carbuncle Awards 2005 |year=2005 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-04 |archive-date=25 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725014745/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2005/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2005.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2005/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |title=Plook on the Plinth Award 2005 |year=2005 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-05 |archive-date=5 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905025121/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2005/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | Cowdenbeath, Dalkeith, Ardrossan, Greenock and Granton (north Edinburgh) |- |2007 |Coatbridge<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2007/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2007.html |title=The Carbuncle Awards 2007 |year=2007 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-04 |archive-date=25 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725015507/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2007/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2007.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7110857.stm |title=Carbuncle 'crown' for Coatbridge |date=26 November 2007 |work=BBC News |access-date=2014-09-12 |archive-date=12 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251012010455/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7110857.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2007/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |title=Plook on the Plinth Award 2007 |year=2007 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-05 |archive-date=12 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912124048/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2007/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |— |- |2009 |Glenrothes<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2008/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2009.html |title=The Carbuncle Awards 2009 |year=2009 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-05 |archive-date=17 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617033110/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2008/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2009.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7857781.stm |title='Depressed' town wins Plook award |date=29 January 2009 |work=BBC News |access-date=2014-09-12 |archive-date=3 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203123533/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7857781.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2008/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |title=Plook on the Plinth Award 2009 |year=2009 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-05 |archive-date=12 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912121311/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2008/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |New Cumnock and Motherwell<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2008/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2009.html |title=The Carbuncle Awards 2009 : Carbuncles : Architecture in profile the building environment in Scotland |work=Urban Realm |access-date=5 September 2014 |archive-date=17 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617033110/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2008/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2009.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |2010 |John o' Groats / Denny<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/johnogroatsJohn |title=John O'Groats named Scotland's most dismal town |year=2010 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-12 |archive-date=12 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912123858/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/johnogroatsJohn |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-11217864 |title=Carbuncle Award goes to John O'Groats |date=10 September 2010 |work=BBC News |access-date=2014-09-12 |archive-date=29 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929233906/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-11217864 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/denny |title=Denny residents accept Plook after John O'Groats rejection |year=2010 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-12 |archive-date=12 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912122523/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/denny |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/sep/20/denny-demands-most-dismal-scottish-town-award |title=Denny residents lobby for 'most dismal town in Scotland' award |year=2010 |work=The Guardian |access-date=2014-09-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2010/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2010.html |title=The Carbuncle Awards 2010 |year=2010 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-05 |archive-date=25 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725012842/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2010/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2010.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2010/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |title=Plook on the Plinth Award 2010 |year=2010 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-05 |archive-date=12 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912124537/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2010/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |East Kilbride, Inverness and Lochgelly<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2010/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2010.html|title=The Carbuncle Awards 2010 : Carbuncles : Architecture in profile the building environment in Scotland|work=Urban Realm|access-date=5 September 2014|archive-date=25 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725012842/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2010/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2010.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |2011 |Linwood<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2011/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2011.html |title=The Carbuncle Awards 2011 |year=2011 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-10 |archive-date=25 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725011241/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2011/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2011.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-16191359 |title=Linwood wins 'dismal' town award |date=15 December 2011 |work=BBC News |access-date=2014-09-12 |archive-date=29 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929233752/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-16191359 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2011/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |title=Plook on the Plinth Award 2011 |year=2011 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-10 |archive-date=11 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911051226/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2011/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |Nairn and Fort William<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk/carbuncle-awards |work=Glasgow Architecture |title=Carbuncle Awards |date=29 March 2013 |access-date=6 February 2015 |archive-date=6 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206163402/http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk/carbuncle-awards |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |2013 |New Cumnock<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2012/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2013.html |title=The Carbuncle Awards 2013 |year=2013 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-10 |archive-date=25 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725024126/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2012/The_Carbuncle_Awards_2013.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-21955916 |title=New Cumnock wins Carbuncle award |date=28 March 2013 |work=BBC News |access-date=2014-09-12 |archive-date=24 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924114323/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-21955916 |url-status=live }}</ref> |Broxburn, Fort William, Kirkintilloch, Motherwell, Newmilns and Paisley<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/arts/visual-arts/carbuncle-awards-what-is-scotland-s-ugliest-town-1-2566452 |title=Carbuncle Awards: What is Scotland's ugliest town? |publisher=The Scotsman |archive-date=15 September 2014 |access-date=14 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915025626/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/arts/visual-arts/carbuncle-awards-what-is-scotland-s-ugliest-town-1-2566452 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2012/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |title=Plook on the Plinth Award 2013 |year=2013 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-09-10 |archive-date=11 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911051032/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2012/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |2015 |Aberdeen<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2014/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |title=Plook on the Plinth Award 2014 |year=2014 |work=Urban Realm |access-date=2014-10-20 |archive-date=11 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911051326/http://www.urbanrealm.com/carbuncles/2014/nominations/4/Plook_on_the_Plinth_Award.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-31095837 |work=BBC News |title=Carbuncle Awards: Aberdeen named Scotland's most dismal town |date=2015-02-03 |archive-date=12 August 2018 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812235041/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-31095837 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/local/city-leaders-hit-back-at-aberdeen-s-carbuncle-award-1.822524 |title=City leaders hit back at Aberdeen's Carbuncle Award |date=3 February 2015 |work=Evening Express |access-date=3 February 2015 |archive-date=3 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203213716/http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/local/city-leaders-hit-back-at-aberdeen-s-carbuncle-award-1.822524 |url-status=live }}</ref> |Cumbernauld, East Kilbride and Leven |- |2025 |Port Glasgow |Ayr, Hamilton, Arbroath |} '''Notes:''' *The shortlist section includes the towns that were in consideration for the award by ''Urban Realm'' *The 2010 award was passed to runners-up Denny, after original winners John o' Groats refused it *The 2005 judging panel included the artist Richard Demarco and the ''Sunday Herald''{{'s}} associate editor Alan Taylor *The 2011 judging panel included architecture critic Mark Chalmers and ''Urban Realm'' editor John Glenday *After the 2025 award was awarded to Port Glasgow, the backlash caused the award to be Officially retired. [[File:Cumbernauld Town Centre - geograph.org.uk - 207206.jpg|thumb|Cumbernauld, winner of the Carbuncle Award in 2001 and 2005]] '''The Zit Building Award''' {| class="wikitable" style="width:70%" |- !Year !Winner !Shortlist |- |2000 |UGC, now Cineworld in Glasgow |— |- |2001 |Maternity hospital at Glasgow Royal Infirmary |Edinburgh Business Plaza The Exchange, Haymarket railway station |- |2005 |The Pinnacle Building, Glasgow |— |- |2011 |Menie Clubhouse<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3270/Trump_Clubhouse_handed_Zit_award.html |work=Urban Realm |title=Trump clubhouse handed zit award |date=22 December 2011 |access-date=6 February 2015 |archive-date=6 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206154335/http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3270/Trump_Clubhouse_handed_Zit_award.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |Fraserburgh Pool and Invergordon Fabrication shed |- |2015 |Edinburgh Airport eastern terminal expansion |— |}
==See also== *Carbuncle Cup *Cumbernauld *''Urban Realm''
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
Category:British architecture awards Category:Ironic and humorous awards