The Royal Institute of British Architects' (RIBA) Council today approved 12 new Honorary Fellowships of the RIBA, to men and women from a wide range of backgrounds, including journalism, architectural education, engineering and surveying.

RIBA Honorary Fellowships reward the particular contributions people have made to architecture in its broadest sense: its promotion, administration and outreach; its role in building more sustainable communities; and finally its role in the education of future generations. The lifetime honour, conferred annually, allows recipients to use the initials Hon FRIBA after their name.

The RIBA’s 2010 Honorary Fellowships will be awarded to:

1. David Birkbeck, CE Design for Homes
2. Peter Bishop, Design for London
3. Patrick Blanc, French landscape designer
4. Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, London 2012
5. Alain de Botton, author
6. Tom Dyckhoff, journalist and broadcaster
7. Rolf Fehlbaum, Chairman Vitra AG
8. Colin Hayward, quantity surveyor, KCMS
9. Hans Ulrich Obrist, Swiss curator and critic, Serpentine Gallery
10. Liz Pearce, CE, The British Property Foundation
11. Brett Steele, Director The Architectural Association
12. Albert Taylor, engineer, Adams Kara Taylor

The RIBA International Fellowships will be presented at a ceremony at the RIBA in London in February 2010.

Speaking today, RIBA President Ruth Reed said: “All of these people have done much for architecture, whether as practitioners or commentators. In their very different ways, they have helped to improve the quality of design and influence the delivery of the built environment in a sustainable and creative way. The RIBA values all their contributions and I look forward to working with each of them in the future.”