2025 RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards, Architectural Prize Wales Shortlist, RIBA building contest architects
2025 RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards News
23 + 22 May 2025
RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards 2025 winners announced
Caption: Top row, Delfyd Farm © Building Narratives (left), Nyth © Kristina Banholzer (right). Bottom row, Hafod Morfa Copperworks Distillery & Visitor Centre © Taran Wilkhu (left), Croes Fach © Simon Maxwell (right):
The conversion of a former steam-engine powerhouse into a distillery and visitor centre, and a modest extension to a Victorian cottage in the Gower Peninsula are among the four winners of the RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards 2025.
Presented since 1966, the RIBA Awards set the standard for great architecture across the UK.
The Awards were announced at a ceremony this evening (22 May), at which Nyth, a new community arts venue, was named as winner of RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards 2025 Building of the Year (sponsored by EH Smith). The jury praised the architects “intrinsic attitude to inclusivity” and “refreshing approach to conservation”, describing the project as a “sophisticated and at times delightful architectural collage”.
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The RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards 2025 winning projects are:
Nyth by Manalo & White (Building of the Year sponsored by EH Smith, Sustainability Award sponsored by Autodesk, Client of the Year sponsored by Equitone)
– A new, inclusive community arts venue and Welsh-language theatre within a former church in Bangor.
photos © Morgan O’Donovan
photos © Kristina Banholzer
Delfyd Farm by Rural Office (Small Project of the Year, Project Architect of the Year – Neil Haddrill)
– A restrained, modest extension to a Victorian cottage maximises the surrounding landscape of the Gower Peninsula.
photos © Building Narratives
Hafod Morfa Copperworks Distillery & Visitor Centre by GWP Architecture & Archer Humphryes (Conservation Award sponsored by Velux)
– The first phase of an ambitious local authority regeneration project has repaired and converted a former Victorian steam-engine powerhouse into a distillery and visitor centre.
photos © Taran Wilkhu
Croes Fach by Hall + Bednarczyk Architects
– A new-build house near Abergavenny has been carefully positioned to nestle into the hillside, to maximise surrounding views of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
photos : Matt Cant
photos : Simon Maxwell
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The four projects were selected by the expert jury, who visited all shortlisted projects.
RSAW Jury Chair Ian Chalk, Director of Ian Chalk Architects, said:
“This year’s winning projects span the length of Wales, varying in form, scale and typology. From highly crafted bespoke homes to sensitive conservation repair works and innovative approaches to adaptive reuse, each project demonstrates the quality and breadth of work undertaken across the country.
Sustainability is at the heart of every project, with a strong commitment to using local skills and materials ensuring projects are deeply rooted within their context. The result is spaces made by and for the communities that they serve.”
Speaking on all the UK Award winners, RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki, said:
“This year’s winners exemplify architecture’s power to transform—turning spaces into places of connection, creativity, and care. Spanning the length of the UK and diverse in form and function, our 2025 winners show a deep sensitivity to place and a strong coherence of thought between all teams involved. Individually these projects inspire and uplift, but collectively, they remind us that architects do far more than design buildings, they shape the way we live, work and connect.”
RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards winners will now be considered for a highly coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence, which will be announced on 10 July. The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning projects later in the year.
2025 RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards images / information from RIBA
Previously on e-architect:
RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards in 2024
RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards in 2024
2022 RSAW Welsh Architecture Award winners
Grange Pavilion, Benham Architects & IBI Group; Private Home, Swansea, Swansea, Loyn & Co Architects:
2022 RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards
The 2022 RSAW Welsh Architecture Award winning projects:
Grange Pavilion, Cardiff
Design: Benham Architects and IBI Group
Grange Pavilion Cardiff
Private Residence, Swansea
Design: Loyn & Co Architects
Swansea Home by Loyn & Co Architects
RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards 2017
RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards in 2017
The Chickenshed
photograph : Michael Sinclair
RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards
National Eisteddfod of Wales’ Gold Medal for Architecture 2016 Shortlist – selection:
City centre community campus, Cardiff and Vale College, Cardiff:
photo from award organisers
Caernarfon Castle Entrance Pavilion, Gwynedd:
photo : Andy Marshall
Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre, Bangor, north Wales:
photo from award organisers
The Chickenshed, Monmouth:
photo : Michael Sinclair
Shortlist for the National Eisteddfod of Wales Gold Medal for Architecture
Welsh Architecture
Welsh Architecture Designs – architectural selection below:
Museum Of Military Medicine, Britannia Park, Harbour Drive
Architecture: Scott Brownrigg Architects
image courtesy of Scott Brownrigg
Museum Of Military Medicine
Cardiff University Innovation Campus
Design: HawkinsBrown ; HOK ; BDP ; DPP
image from architecture office
Cardiff University Innovation Campus
Comments / photos for the 2025 RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards shortlist buildings and architects news page welcome.
