LONDON.- The Royal Institute of British Architects has today (Thursday 23 June) announced the 29 winners of the 2022 RIBA National Awards for architecture. The awards, which have been presented since 1966, recognise the UK’s best new buildings and provide an insight into the UK’s latest design and economic trends.
From the modernisation of a traditional village pub in North Yorkshire (The Alice Hawthorn) to a remodelled London landmark (BFI Riverfront); from an impressive family house built on the shores of a lake in Northern Ireland (House at Lough Beg) to a net-zero carbon office building sitting above the new Crossrail line in the City of London (100 Liverpool Street); from a viewing tower at an Anglo-Saxon royal burial site in Suffolk (Sutton Hoo) to the UK’s first secondary school to achieve ‘Passivhaus’ eco status (Harris Academy Sutton) – this year’s projects showcase the extraordinary breadth and brilliance of UK architecture today.
Key trends among this year’s award winners include:
Uniting communities
In West London’s Fulham South Park, the council, local residents and architects have collaborated to create a new cultural community hub (Sands End Arts and Community Centre); with the flow of users at the centre of its design, Guildford Crematorium has been sensitively reconfigured to provide a tranquil series of spaces for mourners, including a new chapel; and a neo-classical style 18th century church in Hackney has been transformed into a world class music and events venue, attracting visitors from across the globe (St John’s Church Hackney).
Housing for the future
On the outskirts of Winchester, 50 new homes illustrate a vision for modern rural living (Lovedon Fields); as part of the regeneration of London’s Elephant and Castle, a new city block wrapping around a community garden provides 228 new homes (Orchard Gardens, Elephant Park); and Camden Council has successfully slotted 15 new highly insulated, energy-efficient homes into an existing estate (Kiln Place).
Restoration and adaptation of existing buildings
In Carlisle, the 900-year-old former dining hall of the Cathedral priory (The Fratry), has been transformed into a world-class education and events space; a remodelled house rises from the ruins of a 17th Century parchment factory and old cattle shed in Northampton (The Parchment Works); an Edwardian cottage hospital in Devon, originally designed by C. F. A. Voysey has been restored and converted into a holiday home for the Landmark Trust (Winsford Cottage Hospital); and in the Scottish Borders, an iconic 1950’s Modernist house, once fire damaged has now been restored to its former glory (High Sunderland).
Speaking today, RIBA President, Simon Allford, said: “At a time when we need to bring people together and plan for a sustainable future, this year’s RIBA National Award-winning buildings offer much hope. This is a powerful collection of buildings that show, despite the economic, political and social turmoil of the last few years, how great architecture can emerge even in challenging conditions.
As we start to settle from the pandemic, I am particularly encouraged by the number and quality of new buildings designed to foster community. From local cultural hubs to reinvigorated accessible arts venues, these projects demonstrate the power of good architecture to lift spirits and enhance lives.
I’m very pleased to see new and innovative solutions to meet the ever-growing demand for high quality, energy-efficient homes, showing what can be achieved by forward-thinking clients. From developments on the fringes of rural towns to upgraded social housing in cities, these winners set a new benchmark and vision for the future of UK housing.
Retaining and reusing existing buildings is a crucial part of our low carbon future and I am really encouraged to see restoration and sensitive adaptation feature so prominently this year; with buildings acknowledging their history, the needs of the present and the potential of a dynamic future. It is particularly inspiring to see the UK’s first secondary school to achieve ‘Passivhaus’ eco-accreditation amongst our winners – a benchmark for investment in sustainable education buildings.
I congratulate every client, architect and construction team for their achievements.”
