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From a restored castle with a ‘cool’ contemporary café that has brought new life to Cardigan town centre, to the bold and dramatically-lit Welsh National Sailing Academy and Events Centre in Pwllheli and a dynamic new ‘learning village’ in Cardiff, the judges of the Welsh Architecture Awards praised the imaginative approach of the architects and clients whose buildings have enriched and revitalised communities across Wales in 2016.

The Welsh Architecture Awards are presented by RSAW (Royal Society of Architects in Wales) as part of the UK-wide °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ Architecture Awards (Royal Institute of British Architects) which in turn lead on to the °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ Stirling Prize, awarded to the building with the most influence on the evolution of architecture in 2016.

Jury Chair Chris Loyn of Loyn & Co Architects, himself a winner of the 2015 Manser Medal (°ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ House of the Year) said that the positive relationship between architect and client was a key factor in the winning formula for all five projects, demonstrating that good design and successful buildings are achievable within tight budgets.

Chris Loyn said the jury particularly noted the important role played by local authorities in this year’s winning schemes:

"It was great to see local authorities taking such an imaginative approach, playing an active role in the design process, recognising the importance of achieving excellence in design within the inevitable budget constraints facing all councils."

The jury was also impressed by how clients such as Welsh Water, Gwynedd Council and Carmarthenshire County Council had shown a clear commitment to community involvement and to community use that went 'way beyond' the obvious primary purpose of the brief.

Praising the contribution of volunteers in several schemes, the Jury Chair commented:

"It is fair to say that many of these buildings would not have been realised without the tremendous effort and energy of local people. At Cardigan Castle, for example, without the will and passion of this active and determined community, the castle wall and associated buildings would almost certainly have been lost."

The 2016 Welsh Architecture Awards were presented at a ceremony in the Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff, on Wednesday 27 April 2016.

As well as awarding five Welsh Architecture Awards, the jury recognised outstanding achievement in five categories, awarding special prizes to:

• RSAW Building of the Year sponsored by Marley Eternit: Llandegfedd Visitor Centre and Watersports Centre
• RSAW Client of the Year: Gwynedd County Council (YGC) for the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Events Centre, Pwllheli
• RSAW Conservation Award: Cardigan Castle
• RSAW Sustainability Award sponsored by Sika: Burry Port Community Primary School
• RSAW Project Architect of the Year sponsored by Tarmac: jointly awarded to George Mikurcik, Architype and Andrew Tidy, Carmarthenshire County Council, for Burry Port Community Primary School.

Details of all winning schemes:

• Llandegfedd Visitor Centre and Watersports Centre
  
  • Architect: Hall + Bednarczyk Architects
  • Client: Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water
  • Contractor: Anthony A Davies
• Welsh National Sailing Academy and Events Centre, Pwllheli
  • Architect: Ellis Williams Architects
  • Client: Gwynedd Council (YGC) with acknowledgement to Plas Heli Cyf
  • Contractor: Wynne Construction
• Cardigan Castle
  
  • Architect: Purcell
  • Client: Cardigan Castle Building Preservation Trust
  • Contractor: Andrew Scott Ltd
• Burry Port Community Primary School
  
  • Architect: Architype and Property Design, Carmarthenshire County Council
  • Client: Carmarthenshire County Council
  • Contractor: WRW Construction
• Cardiff and Vale College, New City Centre Community Campus
  
  • Architect: BDP
  • Client: Cardiff & Vale College
  • Contractor: Willmott Dixon

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. For further press information contact Mary Wrenn, RSAW Director: rsaw@riba.org 029 2022 8987
2. Welsh Architecture Awards jury 2016: The 2016 jury was chaired by Chris Loyn of Penarth-based Loyn & Co Architects; the RSAW representative was Kay Hyde, Hyde + Hyde Architects; the lay assessor was Menna Richards.
3. Sponsorship: The National Sponsors for the °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ Regional Awards 2016 (Welsh Architecture Awards) are Tarmac, Sika and Marley Eternit.
   
   Tarmac, the UK’s leading sustainable building materials and construction solutions business, sponsors the RSAW Project Architect of the Year Award.
   
   Sika, a speciality chemicals company which pioneers sustainable solutions to global challenges, sponsors the RSAW Sustainability Award.
   Marley Eternit, a leading roofing and facades manufacturer, sponsor the RSAW Building of the Year Award.
4. °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ Awards history: The °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ Awards were set up 50 years ago to champion and celebrate the best of architecture in the UK and around the world, no matter the form, size or budget of the project. The Welsh Architecture Awards were introduced in 2012, to form the first stage of the °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ Awards process. Winners of Welsh Architecture Awards may go on to be shortlisted for the °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ National Awards, which in turn lead to the °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ Stirling Prize. Named after British architect Sir James Stirling and launched in 1996, the prize is awarded to the building which has made the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture in the last year. In 2016 the Stirling Prize is sponsored by Almacantar.
5. Royal Society of Architects in Wales: The Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW) represents and supports 700 Chartered Architect members of the Royal Incorporation of British Architects (°ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ). Through our members’ expertise and our advocacy work in government, public and private sectors, we champion well-designed buildings and places across Wales. www.architecture.com/wales