Stirling prize 2011 shortlist – in pictures

Formerly the British Telecom headquarters in Islington, the 1980s-built Angel centre was shortlisted for the Stirling prize following a £72m refit Photograph: RIBA

Originally designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, the Angel building was stripped back to its concrete frame and reclad as a speculative office block, shaving almost 15% off the cost of a completely new building Photograph: RIBA

'Refurbishment saves money and reduces the environmental impact of construction,' said Simon Allford, lead architect of the overhauled Angel centre Photograph: RIBA

Originally built in 1932, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon recently rejected the idea of a costly rebuild and opted for a spot of remodelling and brand new auditorium instead – at a mere £60m
Photograph: Peter Cook/View

The Royal Shakespeare Company had first planned to replace its base with a futuristic structure by Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat. But financial woes and local objections persuaded them a refit was the way to go. Thanks to designers Bennetts Associates, the theatre now boasts a natty new 'thrust' stage and viewing tower
Photograph: Peter Cook/View

The Royal Shakespeare's refurb has 'captured the spirits and ghosts of the theatre', said architect Rab Bennetts
Photograph: Peter Cook/View

An Gaelaras in Derry, Northern Ireland. As the UK's first Irish-language cultural centre and a product of the Good Friday agreement, it's bursting with political credentials – but will that be enough to impress the RIBA judges?
Photograph: Dennis Gilbert/View

The centrepiece of An Gaeleras, designed by Dublin-based O’Donnell & Tuomey, is a spectacular four-storey atrium, criss-crossed by stairs and galleries
Photograph: Dennis Gilbert/RIBA

'Handsome' and 'unfussy', Michael Hopkins’s Velodrome in London's Olympic Park is currently the bookies' favourite to win, according to the Guardian's Steve Rose
Photograph: Anthony Palmer/RIBA

The velodrome, nicknamed 'the pringle', has been described as 'the best in the world' by Team GB cyclists Photograph: RIBA

An aerial view of London's Velopark, with the basketball arena and Olympic Village also in view
Photograph: Anthony Charlton/RIBA

The £38m Evelyn Grace academy in Lambeth, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is one of the most expensive city academy schools ever built Photograph: RIBA

RIBA's selection of Hadid’s academy highlights an ongoing row between architects and Michael Gove, the education secretary who was quoted complaining that architects were 'creaming cash' from their school design contracts Photograph: RIBA

While the Evelyn Grace academy is undoubtedly a masterpiece, Zaha Hadid scooped up last year's Stirling prize, so her chances of winning again this year seem remote Photograph: RIBA

Clean-lined and sharp-edged, David Chipperfield's Museum Folkwang art gallery in Essen makes up the six contenders
Photograph: Christian Richters/RIBA

Chipperfield already won the Stirling prize in 2007, with another starkly streamlined German building (this time the Museum of Modern Literature in Marbach) Photograph: RIBA