The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has launched a new award for the best building in the world.

The RIBA International Prize will be open to any building in any country, irrespective of its function or budget.

In a statement, RIBA said: “The winning building will demonstrate visionary, innovative thinking and excellence of execution, while making a distinct contribution to its users and to its physical context.”

The accolade replaces RIBA’s Lubetkin Prize, which was scrapped in 2013 for being too narrow in its remit. The new prize has a much wider reach, as it is open to any qualified architect in the world, rather than being exclusive to RIBA members and fellows as before.

But in the week that young collective Assemble won the prestigious Turner art prize for their architectural work – despite no member having a professional architecture qualification – some industry insiders have questioned why a qualification remains a requirement to win the RIBA award.

The inaugural 2016 prize is now receiving entry submissions. A shortlist of six will be drawn from 20 winners of the separate RIBA Awards for International Excellence.

Buildings entered for consideration must have been completed between 1 January 2013 and 1 February 2016.

“We look forward to establishing the RIBA International Prize as a new standard by which to assess and promote design excellence on a global scale,” said acclaimed architect Richard Rogers, who is leading the grand jury deciding the winner.

Other judges include Kunle Adeyenmi, principal of NLÉ, and Philip Gumuchdjian, founder of Gumuchdjian Architects.

“It is our intention to uncover the world’s most innovative and visionary architecture and spark local and global debates about the positive impact that well-designed buildings and places can have on their communities and environment,” said RIBA President Jane Duncan.

The winner of the first RIBA International Prize will be announced at a ceremony in London in December 2016.