As part of the International Architecture and Design Showcase 2012 we are very excited to be awarding the second Silver Pigeon Award to the best national contribution at London Festival of Architecture this Thursday. The award ceremony will take place against the backdrop of exhibitions from Taiwan, Serbia, South Africa, Namibia and the Caribbean in the Ambika P3 exhibition space at University of Westminster.

The inaugural Silver Pigeon Award, London’s answer to the Golden Lion at Venice Biennale was launched in 2010 in partnership with the Architecture Foundation, when it was awarded to the Embassy of Japan for their exhibition, IE Home'.

The 2012 award has been co-commissioned by British Council and the Embassy of Japan and will be designed by Tomoko Azumi.

The winners of the Silver Pigeon will be selected by a panel of leading international figures in architecture and culture, who will be analysing projects in a search for inspiration and visionary, innovative ideas.

The Jury panel:

Professor Richard Burdett Director, LSE Cities Programme

Gunter Klix Architect, Dar es Salaam/Zurich

Rowan Moore Architecture Critic, The Observer

Comfort Mosha Publishing Director, ANZA Magazine

Vicky Richardson Director, Architecture, Fashion, Design, British Council

Catherine Slessor Editor of the Architectural Review

Victoria Thornton OBE Founder and Director, Open-City

Eckhard Thiemann Producer, Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival

Tamsie Thomson Director, RIBA London

Mirko Zardini Director, Canadian Centre for Architecture

To see the projects being considered for the award, or for more information about the International Architecture and Design Showcase please see the showcase guide.