Dezeen Magazine

RIBA awards the best British architecture projects of 2015

The Royal Institute of British Architects in London has revealed 37 winners of its 2015 awards, including a shoe-polish factory converted into offices, a sculptural swimming pool and a waterside distillery (+ slideshow).

Alfriston School by Duggan Morris Architects
Alfriston School by Duggan Morris Architects

The RIBA Awards have been changed this year to only recognise projects in the UK, and this year's list of winners comprises 29 in England, five in Scotland, two from Northern Ireland and one in Wales.

Well-known studios recognised include Roger Stirk Harbour + Partners, for its NEO Bankside housing project in south London, and Hopkins Architects, for the UK headquarters of conservation trust WWF.

Kew House by Piercy&Company
Kew House by Piercy&Company

Nine private houses made the list, along with eight developer-led housing developments. These vary from a cedar-clad residence on the Welsh coastline to a canal-side housing development on a former industrial estate.

There are also seven education buildings, including a nursery school in Edinburgh by Malcolm Fraser Architects, Heneghan Peng's library for the University of Greenwich and Feilden Clegg Bradley's student union for Manchester Metropolitan University.

Cliff house by Hyde and Hyde
Cliff house by Hyde and Hyde

"The UK is blighted by poor-quality new housing and dilapidated school buildings, so I am delighted that the notable trends amongst this year's RIBA National Award-winners are the volume of inspiring new housing and education projects," said RIBA President Stephen Hodder.

"I am particularly pleased to award an unprecedented number of housing developments," he continued. "The innovative spirit of these projects sets them apart from the ubiquitous, uninspiring housing developments being built all over the country. Our award winners show it is possible to build exceptional new housing developments that are profitable, sustainable and desirable places to live."

Brentford Lock West by Duggan Morris Architects
Brentford Lock West by Duggan Morris Architects

He went to explain how he believes well-designed school buildings have the power to inspire students and teachers.

"This doesn't mean every new school needs to be a show-stopper, but we must ensure that value for money and the best possible design go hand in hand," he said.

Lancaster University Engineering Building by John McAslan and Partners
Lancaster University Engineering Building by John McAslan and Partners

The shortlist for the Stirling Prize, awarded by the RIBA to the most significant contribution to British architecture this year, will be drawn from these winners and announced on 16 July 2015. Last year's recipient was the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool by Haworth Tompkins.

Scroll down for the full list of winning projects:


London
» University of Greenwich Stockwell Street Building by Heneghan Peng Architects
» Burntwood School by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
» St Mary of Eton Church, Apartments and Community Rooms by Matthew Lloyd Architects
» The Foundry by Architecture 00
» NEO Bankside by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
» University Campus for Hult International Business School by Sergison Bates Architects
» Bonhams by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands
» Ashmount Primary School by Penoyre & Prasad
» Levring House by Jamie Fobert Architects
» Foyles by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands
» Kew House by Piercy&Company
» Brentford Lock West by Duggan Morris Architects
» Darbishire Place by Niall McLaughlin Architects
» National Theatre (NT Future) by Haworth Tompkins

National Theatre (NT Future) by Haworth Tompkins
National Theatre (NT Future) by Haworth Tompkins

East
» Abode, Great Kneighton, Cambridge by Proctor and Matthews Architects

East Midlands
» Parkside, Matlock by Evans Vettori Architects Limited
» Uppingham School Science Centre by Orms

Flint House by Skene Catling de la Pena
Flint House by Skene Catling de la Pena

North West
» Lancaster University Engineering Building by John McAslan and Partners
» Manchester Metropolitan University Student Union by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
» The Whitworth, Manchester by MUMA

South
» Alfriston School, Beaconsfield by Duggan Morris Architects
» Flint House, Waddeston by Skene Catling de la Pena
» The Fishing Hut by Niall McLaughlin Architects

Myrtle Cottage Garden Studio by Stonewood Design
Myrtle Cottage Garden Studio by Stonewood Design

South East
» Sussex House by Wilkinson King Architects
» WWF-UK Headquarters Living Planet Centre, Woking by Hopkins Architects

South West
» Myrtle Cottage Garden Studio, Bradford on Avon by Stonewood Design
» Dundon Passivhaus, Compton Dundon by Prewett Bizley Architects

Dundon Passivhaus by Prewett Bizley Architects
Dundon Passivhaus by Prewett Bizley Architects

West Midlands
» Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent by Feilden Clegg Bradley

Yorkshire
» Sheffield Cathedral, New Main Entrance and reordering by Thomas Ford & Partners

Maggies Centre Lanarkshire by Reiach and Hall
Maggies Centre Lanarkshire by Reiach and Hall

Wales
» Cliff House, Southgate by Hyde + Hyde Architects

Northern Ireland
» Old See House, Belfast by RPP Architects with Richard Murphy Architects
» House at Maghera by McGonigle McGrath

Dalmunach Distillery by Archial Norr
Dalmunach Distillery by Archial Norr

Scotland
» Maggies Lanarkshire by Reiach and Hall Architects
» Arcadia Nursery, University of Edinburgh by Malcolm Fraser Architects
» West Burn Lane, St Andrews by Sutherland Hussey Architects
» Dalmunach Distillery by Archial Norr (Inverness Studio)
» Laurieston Transformational Area, Glasgow by Elder and Cannon Architects and Page Park Architects