Snug Architects were announced as the winners of the RIBA Competition to design The Wall of Answered Prayer, a piece of public art made from one million bricks, each representing an answered prayer. The aim of the project is to preserve and celebrate the UK’s Christian heritage and inspire the nation to pray. The architectural sculpture will use state of the art technology so that visitors can use their phones to read the answered prayers which each brick relates to.

After a global architectural design competition, spanning three years, run by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the winner and location has been announced. Over 130 architecture practices from 28 countries submitted their concepts, with just five making it onto the shortlist for the second round of judging.

CEO of The Wall of Answered Prayer, Richard Gamble, said:

“This 15 year old vision is now becoming reality. I’m chuffed to bits with the design which handled perfectly the challenge of creating intrigue when being seen from afar, yet provides a truly interactive journey for those who visit. We want to create an iconic structure the nation will not only be proud of but find inspirational – it will be a landmark of hope.”

The 50-metre high arching structure which dominates Snug’s design will be situated on a strategic 10-acre site between the M6, M42 and HS2 at Coleshill Manor on the edge of Birmingham, and is expected to be seen by more than 500,000 people every day. The land has been donated by the Edmiston family and that in itself is an answered prayer.

“The way we have managed to acquire the land is nothing short of miraculous, and it has been an incredible journey of prayer. We are extremely grateful to the Edmistons for their generosity and thank God for His masterplan to put us there” – Richard Gamble