The spectacular €10.3m American Air Museum was designed by internationally-renowned architect, Sir Norman Foster. It was awarded the coveted Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize and was officially opened by Her Majesty, The Queen, Elizabeth II.
Visitors view the exhibits from a first floor walkway that slopes around the roof’s interior, a functional vantage point that capitalises on the unique design. The canopy design is based on the geometry of a torus and comprises 274 precast curved panels weighing 12.5 tonnes each, along with 650 upper units, generating a roof load in excess of 6,000 tonnes. The innovative design and use of concrete construction facilitated economy and buildability with a structure that demonstrates excellent thermal capacity and acoustic insulation properties.
The Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize is a British prize for excellence in architecture. It is named after the architect James Stirling, organised and awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects.