2024 RIBA Client of the Year Shortlist, British architecture prize, UK architects design news

2024 RIBA Client of the Year Shortlist News

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9 August 2024

RIBA Client of the Year 2024 shortlist revealed

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the shortlist for the RIBA Client of the Year 2024. Since its establishment in 1998, the annual award has recognised the crucial role of clients who commission and champion outstanding architecture.

This year’s shortlist recognises four exceptional clients for their role in delivering transformative and considered projects that will benefit communities for years to come. The results are a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school (Derbyshire County Council, Alfreton Park Community Special School), a community hub (Belfast City Council and Falls Community Council, St Comgall’s), an accessible retreat (Nick Read, Wraxall Yard), and a new culture centre (Shakespeare North Trust and Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Shakespeare North).

2024 RIBA Client of the Year Shortlist of 4

The RIBA Client of the Year 2024 shortlist is:

Derbyshire County Council for Alfreton Park Community Special School by Curl la Tourelle Head Architecture

Alfreton Park Community Special School building in Derbyshire, central England:

photographs : Kilian O’Sullivan

A school for pupils aged 3 to 19 years with special needs, Alfreton Park Community Special School is a shining example of what can be accomplished when an ambitious client and a skilful architect work harmoniously together.

photo : Kilian O’Sullivan

The jury were impressed by the drive and determination of both the client and the architect to achieve their shared vision for an exemplary education setting that goes significantly above and beyond the standard school offering
.

Shakespeare North Trust and Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council for Shakespeare North by Helm Architecture with executive architects Austin-Smith: Lord

Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot, northwest England:

photos : Infinite 3D Photography

An ambitious vision for a local community along with an extraordinary brief from a dedicated client has seen a council-owned car park transformed into a theatre and education building promoting learning, experimentation, and reinterpretation of William Shakespeare’s works.

photograph : Andrew P Brooks

The project aims to inspire a community, raise educational aspiration and attainment, and play a part in regenerating the local region. Community engagement throughout the duration of the project extended to the supply chain, partnerships with local merchants, and collaborations with independent businesses.

Belfast City Council and Falls Community Council for St Comgall’s, Belfast by Hall Black Douglas Architects

St. Comgall’s, Belfast building, Northern Ireland:

photos : Mervyn Black

Formerly a derelict primary school, the new St Comgall’s exemplifies architecture in service of a community. Re-imagined and then painstakingly remade, the crumbling 1930’s structure has become a vibrant new home for Belfast City Council.

photo : Mervyn Black

The client and end users were keen to tap into the local memory of the civic site and the shared history of The Troubles as experienced by the community. The result is an exemplar of ‘living heritage’ that bears witness to the past while fostering a future of connectivity.

Nick Read for Wraxall Yard by Clementine Blakemore Architects

Wraxall Yard in Lower Wraxall, Dorchester, Devon, southwest England:

photos : Lorenzo Zandri

Extraordinary ambition and commitment from the client and architect has seen this dilapidated Dorset dairy farm sensitively repaired and converted into highly accessible holiday accommodation.

photo : Emma Lewis

Sparked by personal experience of disability and frustration at the standard of available wheelchair accessible accommodation, the development’s extensive and efficient accessible features give disabled guests independence. The jury was inspired by the client’s ambition to have a wide-reaching social and environmental impact.

Chair of the RIBA Client of the Year 2024 Jury Simon Henley said:

“This is a truly inspiring shortlist. It celebrates four clients who have each shown huge courage and determination in commissioning and stewarding their buildings to fruition. Each brings with it incredible social value to its communities and constituencies.

Alfreton Park School is a welcoming and inclusive place for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. Wraxall Yard is a sensitively restored dairy farm offering inclusive holiday accommodation. With St Comgall’s, in Belfast, the client group are using the building as a unifying and positive force within the neighbourhood. And Shakespeare North commemorates the only known purpose-built indoor Elizabethan theatre, and in so doing has inspired and invigorated an historic Merseyside town.

For each there is a story. And these clients have demonstrated real ambition in commissioning out-of-the-ordinary buildings. Their determination in each case has brought about real joy.”

This year’s jury comprised: Founding Director of Henley Halebrown, Simon Henley (chair); Founding Director of 6a, Stephanie Macdonald; and Business Development Manager for Ibstock, Darren Johnson.

The winner of the Award will be announced at the RIBA Stirling Prize ceremony on Wednesday 16 October 2024 at The Roundhouse in London.

2022 RIBA Client of the Year Shortlist images / information received August 2024

Previously on e-architect:

The RIBA Client of the Year 2022 shortlist of four:

2022 RIBA Client of the Year Shortlist

Links to the shortlist:

2022 RIBA Client of the Year Shortlist

100 Liverpool Street London Workplace
Design: Hopkins Architects

photograph © Janie Airey
100 Liverpool Street London

Hackney New Primary School and 33 Kingsland Road
Design: Henley Halebrown, Architects

photograph © Nick Kane
Hackney New Primary School and 33 Kingsland Road

Masters Field Development Balliol College, Oxford, England, UK
Architecture: Niall McLaughlin Architects

photograph © Nick Kane
Masters Field Development Balliol College Oxford

Harris Academy, Sutton, South London, England, UK
Design: Architype

photo : Jack Hobhouse
Harris Academy Sutton London School

2021 RIBA Client of the Year Shortlist

RIBA Client of the Year 2021 Winner News

Cambridge Central Mosque, Cambridgeshire, south east England
Design: Marks Barfield Architects

photo : Morley von Sternberg
Cambridge Central Mosque

2021 RIBA Client of the Year Shortlist

Tintagel Castle Bridge, Cornwall, south west England
Design: Ney & Partners, William Matthews Associates

photograph © David Levene
Tintagel Castle Bridge

Prof Lord Bhattacharyya Building, Coventry, West Midlands, Central England
Design: Cullinan Studio Architects

photograph © Nick Hufton
Prof Lord Bhattacharyya Building Coventry

Tiger Way, north east London, south east England
Design: HawkinsBrown Architects

photograph : Jack Hobhouse
Tiger Way Hackney housing and school Buildings