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Delight as Singing Ringing Tree wins national award

Burnley's Panoptican, Singing Ringing Tree, by Tonkin Liu, has achieved major recognition by being named winner of a National Award for architectual excellence at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) National and International Awards announced in London on Friday. It is one of just 14 award-winners from across the UK, and all were praised for their excellence in design quality and their contribution to the local environment.

Speaking at the Awards dinner, RIBA President Jack Pringle said, 'The RIBA awards are about celebrating beautiful buildings that work for people, whether it's well designed schools which make it easier for children to learn in, innovative arts centres, excellent housing or improved public spaces - all of which enrich people's lives.'

The £20,000 prize will be presented on Saturday 6 October 2007 live on Channel 4 from the Roundhouse in London.

Reacting to the Award, designer Anna Liu said, 'We are very proud for Burnley and everyone who has worked on Singing Ringing Tree and believed in it. Although small in comparison with the others, Singing Ringing Tree has grown in the imagination and delight of many people around the world, far beyond, though completely rooted in the hill above Burnley. Congratulations to Burnley!

Singing Ringing Tree is the third intriguing artwork to emerge from Panopticans, a visionary scheme led by Mid Pennine Arts and funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the Lancashire Economic Partnership (LEP). Its aim is to create a series of stunning 21st century landmarks across East Lancashire as symbols of the renaissance of the area.