Architype

3 Projects, 3 Regions, 6 Awards; it’s certainly been a winning week at Architype in the RIBA Regional heats.

The first of the flurry came from the West Midlands final, where our long-standing project, St Michael’s Hospice was nominated. We were delighted to be the first team up to receive a Regional Award for the project, which has been current in the office for over 7 years. Almost every member of staff in Hereford has had a role to play on the project over the duration, but it was especially apt that Project Architect, Paul Neep scooped an additional Special Award for ‘Project Architect of the Year’, having been the constant throughout.

Image ©Shevy Sanhu

We were especially pleased with the feedback from the judges following their visit to the Hospice, who really understood the multi-layered approach to design.

‘If Architecture is to celebrate human achievements and is here to last, what should the architecture for a hospice celebrate? How should it address its users, where ‘end-user’ takes a very different meaning? What should it offer beyond its fit for a medical purpose environment? The St Michael’s Hospice project gives comprehensive and convincing answers to all of these.’ The full review can be read here.

Image ©DennisGilbert/VIEW

Next up was RIBA East, where one of our most celebrated projects, The Enterprise Centre was shortlisted. One of 17 Regional Award winners, the project also received two Special Awards for Sustainable Project of the Year and Client of the Year, taking the project up to 23 award wins, since the building completed in 2015. The judges said that ‘The building is a tour de force in the exploration and use of sustainable materials but it is also a remarkable place to work and to enjoy.’

Image ©Richard Marsham/RMG Photography

The final awards celebration was the most hotly contested category of all, RIBA London, where a record number of 85 nominated schemes were competing. Highgate Junior School was thrilled to take home a Regional Award and to be recognised as one of the years best new buildings in the city of London. The judges commented ‘Overall this building has a sense of quality, permanence and joy. It provides an elegant canvas for the children’s artwork which is displayed throughout and meets the client’s vision to create an inspirational learning environment to encourage creativity and ingenuity.’

Image ©DennisGilbert/VIEW

We await to hear if any of the projects will be put forward as national finalists, which will be announced in June. Congratulations and thank you to all of the design and delivery teams and supportive clients involved in the three projects, and all of the other worthy regional winners.