Architecture

RIBA selects Britain's best new buildings

RIBA selects Britain's best new buildings
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has revealed the winners of its 2015 National Awards
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has revealed the winners of its 2015 National Awards
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Abode, Great Kneighton, by Proctor and Matthews Architects, is a 300 unit housing project
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Abode, Great Kneighton, by Proctor and Matthews Architects, is a 300 unit housing project
Alfriston School, by Duggan Morris Architects
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Alfriston School, by Duggan Morris Architects
Alfriston School, by Duggan Morris Architects, provides a new indoor swimming pool for an all-girls special school
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Alfriston School, by Duggan Morris Architects, provides a new indoor swimming pool for an all-girls special school
Ashmount Primary School, by Penoyre and Prasad
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Ashmount Primary School, by Penoyre and Prasad
Ashmount Primary School, by Penoyre and Prasad, is a zero-carbon school and nursery
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Ashmount Primary School, by Penoyre and Prasad, is a zero-carbon school and nursery
Bonhams, by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, is described by RIBA as "is an exemplary urban infill on an extremely complicated site"
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Bonhams, by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, is described by RIBA as "is an exemplary urban infill on an extremely complicated site"
Brentford Lock, by Duggan Morris Architects, is a 45 unit housing project
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Brentford Lock, by Duggan Morris Architects, is a 45 unit housing project
Inverness' Dalmunach Distillery, by Archial Norr (Inverness Studio)
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Inverness' Dalmunach Distillery, by Archial Norr (Inverness Studio)
Inverness' Dalmunach Distillery, by Archial Norr (Inverness Studio), is located on the banks of the river Spey
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Inverness' Dalmunach Distillery, by Archial Norr (Inverness Studio), is located on the banks of the river Spey
Darbishire Place, by Niall McLaughlin Architects, replaces a mansion block taken out in World War II by a V2 bomb
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Darbishire Place, by Niall McLaughlin Architects, replaces a mansion block taken out in World War II by a V2 bomb
Somerset's Dundon Passivhaus, by Prewett Bizley Architects, is an impressive standout
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Somerset's Dundon Passivhaus, by Prewett Bizley Architects, is an impressive standout
Niall McLaughlin Architects makes a deserving appearance with its Fishing Hut
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Niall McLaughlin Architects makes a deserving appearance with its Fishing Hut
Flint House, by Skene Catling de la Pena
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Flint House, by Skene Catling de la Pena
Flint House, by Skene Catling de la Pena, boasts including a small rivulet of water that that cuts a grotto through a corner of the main house
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Flint House, by Skene Catling de la Pena, boasts including a small rivulet of water that that cuts a grotto through a corner of the main house
Foyles bookshop, by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands
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Foyles bookshop, by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands
Foyles bookshop, by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, was previously home to Central St Martins School of Art
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Foyles bookshop, by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, was previously home to Central St Martins School of Art
Kew House, by Piercy and Company, melds architectural styles and prefabricating techniques
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Kew House, by Piercy and Company, melds architectural styles and prefabricating techniques
Lancaster University Engineering Building, by John McAslan + Partners, is on track to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding award for green building
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Lancaster University Engineering Building, by John McAslan + Partners, is on track to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding award for green building
Laurieston Transformational Area, by Elder and Cannon architects + Page \ Park is a housing project that received a BREEAM EcoHomes standard of "Very Good"
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Laurieston Transformational Area, by Elder and Cannon architects + Page \ Park is a housing project that received a BREEAM EcoHomes standard of "Very Good"
Myrtle Cottage Garden Studio, by Stonewood Design, serves as a space to work, sew, play guitar and sleep
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Myrtle Cottage Garden Studio, by Stonewood Design, serves as a space to work, sew, play guitar and sleep
National Theatre, by Haworth Tompkins, "gives the theatre a clarity and a sense of arrival it has never had before," says RIBA
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National Theatre, by Haworth Tompkins, "gives the theatre a clarity and a sense of arrival it has never had before," says RIBA
NEO Bankside, by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, is a new housing towers project
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NEO Bankside, by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, is a new housing towers project
Sheffield Cathedral, by Thomas Ford & Partners, adds a new front door to the cathedral
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Sheffield Cathedral, by Thomas Ford & Partners, adds a new front door to the cathedral
St Mary of Eton Church, by Matthew Lloyd Architects, features three new buildings constructed in a red brick added to the existing church
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St Mary of Eton Church, by Matthew Lloyd Architects, features three new buildings constructed in a red brick added to the existing church
University of Greenwich, by Heneghan Peng Architects, is lLocated in the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Maritime Greenwich and opposite Hawksmoor’s St Alfege
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University of Greenwich, by Heneghan Peng Architects, is lLocated in the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Maritime Greenwich and opposite Hawksmoor’s St Alfege
World Wildlife Fund HQ, by Hopkins, houses 340 staff in a wide, open-plan office environment
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World Wildlife Fund HQ, by Hopkins, houses 340 staff in a wide, open-plan office environment
Architecture 00's The Foundry has delighted critics
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Architecture 00's The Foundry has delighted critics
Architecture 00's The Foundry has already snagged RIBA's London Building of the Year and RIBA London Regional award
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Architecture 00's The Foundry has already snagged RIBA's London Building of the Year and RIBA London Regional award
The Foundry was completed last year and cost £5 million (roughly $7.9 million)
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The Foundry was completed last year and cost £5 million (roughly $7.9 million)
While the original brief called for a simple refurb, Architecture 00 also added a new additional concrete building
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While the original brief called for a simple refurb, Architecture 00 also added a new additional concrete building
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has revealed the winners of its 2015 National Awards
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The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has revealed the winners of its 2015 National Awards
View gallery - 31 images

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has revealed the winners of its 2015 National Awards. While last year was dominated by massive projects like the Shard and the Library of Birmingham, this year is marked by an increase in housing projects, which make up a quarter of the overall winners.

The structure of the awards has been tinkered with this year, and RIBA has dropped the European component to focus purely on UK-based projects. This results in 37 winners from around the UK (down from last year's total of 56 from the UK and EU), from which one winner will be chosen to receive the Stirling Prize on October 15. London fares best, with a full 14 winners located in the capital, but Scotland is well represented too, with five winners, and it's arguably a more geographically balanced selection than one might expect.

Somerset's Dundon Passivhaus, by Prewett Bizley Architects, is an impressive standout
Somerset's Dundon Passivhaus, by Prewett Bizley Architects, is an impressive standout

As already mentioned, housing projects had a particularly strong showing at this year's awards. Somerset's Dundon Passivhaus, by Prewett Bizley Architects, is a standout design, and was created by the architect for himself and his family.

The home is situated at – and part-built into – the lowest point of a wooded hill. As its name suggests, it meets the exacting Passivhaus energy standard, which means it is extremely well insulated and almost air-tight, and therefore very efficient to heat and cool. The house also boasts a large rainwater harvesting tank, log burners that provide hot water and heating, and a solar hot water heater on the roof. Dundon Passivhaus was completed in 2013 at a cost of £500,000 (US$792,918).

Niall McLaughlin Architects makes a deserving appearance with its Fishing Hut
Niall McLaughlin Architects makes a deserving appearance with its Fishing Hut

Niall McLaughlin Architects makes a deserving appearance on the winner's list with its Fishing Hut. Based on a Hampshire lake, the hut's understated use of wood brings to mind the same firm's beautiful Bishop Edward King Chapel (which made the 2013 Stirling Prize shortlist).

Architecture 00's The Foundry has already snagged RIBA's London Building of the Year and RIBA London Regional award
Architecture 00's The Foundry has already snagged RIBA's London Building of the Year and RIBA London Regional award

Architecture 00 has delighted critics with its transformation of a former shoe polish factory into a building for ethical organizations. The original brief called for a simple refurb, but Architecture 00 also added an extra concrete building, and the flexible and open interior layout sees concrete, wood and glass used to great effect. The building was completed last year and cost £5 million (roughly $7.9 million).

The Foundry has already snagged RIBA's London Building of the Year and London Regional award, and we wouldn't be at all surprised if it was the overall winner come October.

"The UK is blighted by poor-quality new housing and dilapidated school buildings, so I am delighted that the notable trends amongst this year’s RIBA National Award-winners are the volume of inspiring new housing and education projects," says RIBA President Stephen Hodder. "I am particularly pleased to award an unprecedented number of housing developments. The innovative spirit of these projects sets them apart from the ubiquitous, uninspiring housing developments being built all over the country. Our award winners show it is possible to build exceptional new housing developments that are profitable, sustainable and desirable places to live."

Check out the gallery for a selection of the winners, and we'll be back later this year to report on the overall Stirling Prize winner.

Source: RIBA

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1 comment
Wombat56
So the Dundon Passivhaus has log burners for heating (gross polluters) and only costs US$800K.

The environment can rest easy going forward.