Six regional winners progress to RIBA national awards

A restored grade-one listed church in Sunderland, known as 17Nineteen and designed by Mosedale Gillatt, has been named North East Building of the Year.

FaulknerBrowns’ Sunderland City Hall and Purcell’s ‘Common Ground in Sacred Space’ restoration project at Newcastle Cathedral were also recognised in the RIBA North East Awards.

Also successful were Gilesgate, a zinc-clad extension to a Georgian house in Durham, a Passivhaus home in rural Northumberland named Godwit House, and St Hilda’s Church & Kirkleatham Parish House by Chance de Silva.

All six of the projects will be considered for the RIBA National Awards, to be announced on 22 June.

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.

Regional winners:

17Nineteen by Mosedale Gillatt Architects – winner, Building of the Year and conservation award

The Churches Conservation Trust is delighted with the outcome. Credit: Mike Veitch

This restored grade-one-listed church has been transformed into cultural hub for the City of Sunderland.

Amanda Gerry of the Churches Conservation Trust said: “Right from the start everyone involved really embraced the CCT’s ethos of sensitive adaption and conservation-led regeneration along with our desire to include an ambitious heritage craft skills programme and have helped us navigate the very difficult regeneration of this very special Georgian building that is now saved for future generations as a new cultural space at the heart of the city.”

City Hall by FaulknerBrowns Architects

Local firm FaulknerBrowns designed City Hall. Credit: HuftonCrow

This £42m civic building combining offices, municipal services and community outreach spaces is an integral part of the Riverside Sunderland masterplan, sitting on the former Vaux brewery site.

The RIBA judges said: “The partnership between the city-council client and the architects has delivered an inspiring new civic landmark and a forward-thinking workplace.

“Located on Sunderland’s former Vaux Brewery site, it is a bold and positive step as part of a wider vision for the city’s and region’s regeneration. Awareness of its physical and cultural context, and commitment to inclusivity and sustainability, all informed its design.”

Cllr Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “We are thrilled to see City Hall being awarded yet another prestigious accolade.

“The RIBA Awards have been celebrating the best architectural projects the UK has had to offer for the best part of 180 years, so it’s fantastic to see City Hall join such an esteemed list of projects which have been recognised by the organisation throughout the course of history.”

Gilesgate, Durham by Building Design Northern – winner, project architect of the year

The scheme won David Hunt project architect of the year. Credit: Jill Tate

This 1,260 sq ft zinc-clad extension to a grade two-listed Georgian house within the Durham City Conservation Area secured for BDN director of conservation and design David Hunt the project architect of the year award.

Hunt said: “It is an honour and a privilege to have been recognised against an array of high-quality projects and talented architects. I’d like to extend my thanks to all that were involved in this project, including all of BDN’s architecture and engineering team, for their hard-work and collaboration, which resulted in an exceptional outcome for our clients.”

Godwit House by MawsonKerr – winner, sustainability award

The project is highly energy-efficient. Credit: Jill Tate

Built on a brownfield site on the edge of Warkworth, this timber cassette Passivhaus design was provided for a private client.

It features ground floor bedrooms and study clustered around a courtyard garden, with a large large living, kitchen and dining space offering estuary views from the upper level.

Newcastle Cathedral: Common Ground in Sacred Space by Purcell Architecture

Purcell led on the scheme over ten years. Credit: Nick Farka

Responding to a brief to deliver a civic and sacred space fit for the 21st century, heritage specialist Purcell led this restoration and renewal scheme, underpinned by sustainable interventions.

Purcell senior consultant Jane Kennedy said: “The project took over ten years to plan, develop and execute — almost a generation of dreaming and hard work by so many folks. But we shared a broad and inspiring vision, and the result, we hope you agree, honours this ancient house of worship.”

St Hilda’s Church and Kirkleatham Parish Centre by Chance de Silva – winner, client of the year

RIBA’s Simon Allford said all the spaces ‘bring joy to our lives’. Credit: Tim Crocker

This 2,626 sq ft sustainable community church and parish centre near Redcar was described by RIBA judges as “creating a building that is the beating heart of its community,” with the judges adding “it is intensively used and obviously loved, doing everything simply and without fuss”.

RIBA president Simon Allford said: “Winning a RIBA regional award is a fantastic achievement. These projects, selected by a rigorous peer review process, represent the very best of the region’s new architecture. Inspiring buildings and spaces bring joy to all our lives, and this year’s award winners certainly fit that bill. Many congratulations to all.”