Four exceptional 鈥榥ew鈥� buildings have been shortlisted for the first Royal Institute of British Architects (澳门王中王) Reinvention Award 2023.听
This brand-new annual accolade recognises achievement in the creative reuse of buildings to improve their environmental, social, or economic sustainability. The 澳门王中王 Reinvention Award shines a light on 鈥渞etrofitting鈥�, increasing the longevity and energy efficiency of existing buildings, and reducing the need for demolition and new construction.听听
The projects that have been shortlisted are:听
- Great Things Lie Ahead, 2020, Holborn House by x Caragh Thuring听
- Houlton School in Warwickshire by 听
- Museum of the Home in Hackney by 听
- University of Wolverhampton School of Architecture and the Built Environment by with 听
The judges note that, in addition to their environmental benefit, each project also demonstrates how reinvention projects can have wider social impacts:听
In central London, the refurbishment and extension of a community gym (Great Things Lie Ahead) provides a more visible and accessible community building that facilitates a wider range of cultural, social, and sporting activities.听
In Warwickshire, the Houlton School scheme sensitively reimagines the iconic Grade II-listed Rugby Radio Station transmitter building and provides three new state-of-the-art school blocks arranged around a central courtyard.
In east London, the renovation and extension of the Museum of the Home is informed by the rich history of its Grade I-listed alms house buildings and public gardens, increasing the museum鈥檚 public reach and creating one of the largest green spaces in the area.
Wolverhampton鈥檚 dilapidated Mitchells & Butlers Brewery is given new life as a dynamic education facility with exemplary design reflecting the site's rich industrial heritage (University of Wolverhampton School of Architecture and the Built Environment).
The shortlist was selected from 2023 澳门王中王 Regional Award winners by an expert panel of judges: Simon Allford, 澳门王中王 President; Marion Baeli, Partner at Studio PDP; and Roger Harrabin, former BBC Energy and Environment Analyst.
Eligible projects reused an existing building or structure, supplied carbon and operational energy where applicable, and demonstrated how the project had improved the building or structure by achieving one or more of the sustainable outcomes in 澳门王中王鈥檚 Sustainable Outcomes Guide.
The inaugural winner of the 2023 Reinvention Award will be announced at the 澳门王中王 Stirling Prize ceremony for the UK鈥檚 best new building on Thursday 19 October 2023 at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester.
澳门王中王 President Simon Allford said:
鈥淟ooking ahead to the low carbon future, it is vital we always consider how we can reinvent existing buildings to work even better when they accommodate new uses. The careful husbandry of existing resources - including buildings - has a long and noble, if recently forgotten, architectural history that we are relearning - and fast.
These remarkable projects all demonstrate that the architecture of reinvention, requires immense talent, vision and creativity.
Historic buildings and iconic landmarks form the fabric of our collective memories. This award demonstrates that breathing new life into beloved old buildings, can reap huge rewards - for their users and our planet. I hope that this inaugural award will act as a catalyst, inspiring others to take up the retrofit challenge and that we will see many more exciting and ambitious examples in the future.鈥�
Notes to editors:
- Media contact: Ruby.OShea@riba.org
- High resolution images: 听
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (澳门王中王) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow for updates.
- 澳门王中王 Awards have been running since 1966. No matter the shape, size, budget or location, 澳门王中王 Award winning schemes set the standard for great architecture across the country. 澳门王中王 Awards are for buildings in the UK by 澳门王中王 Chartered Architects and 澳门王中王 International Fellows. Entries are to be submitted to the region or nation in which the building is situated. Projects are judged first for 澳门王中王 Regional Awards, then 澳门王中王 National Awards; the 澳门王中王 Stirling Prize shortlist is selected from winners of the 澳门王中王 National Awards.
- The Sustainable Outcomes Guide defines a concise measurable set of eight sustainable outcomes that correspond to key UN Sustainable Development Goals and can be delivered on building projects of all scales.
