The environment and different forms of community were central to the winning projects of the RIBA East Awards 2024. This included the social and cultural life within Cambridge University (Dining Hall, Homerton College, John Bradfield Court, Darwin College and the WongAvery Gallery), as well as the inherent social value of housing designed for homeless people (Bluebird). Homes have been designed with energy and construction at the forefront of consideration, for both housing (Beechwood Village) and private houses (Creek Cabin).
Presented since 1966, the RIBA Awards set the standard for great architecture across the country.
The RIBA East Awards 2024 were announced at a ceremony this evening, at which Gainsborough's House Museum was named as winner of RIBA East Building of the Year Award 2024 (sponsored by EH Smith). The jury was impressed to see “a significant regional and national museum emerge from the adaptation of what was previously a small, local resource”.
The 2024 RIBA East Award-winning projects are:
● Bailey Studios by Ashworth Parkes Architects
A modest house, located in a central Cambridge conservation area
● Beechwood Village by Pollard Thomas Edwards
A co-designed modular, contemporary neighbourhood
● Bluebird by SKArchitects
A renovated terrace of properties provides an additional 50 bed spaces for people experiencing homelessness
● Creek Cabin by MAP Architecture and Jon Broome Architects
A low-environmental-impact home that celebrates its rural Suffolk setting
● Dining Hall, Homerton College, Cambridge by Feilden Fowles Architects
The new building has become the focal point in the college’s social and cultural life
● Gainsborough's House Museum by ZMMA
This project transforms Gainsborough’s House into an international centre
● John Bradfield Court, Darwin College by Allies and Morrison
A mixture of restored 18th century architecture and a new multipurpose facility
● The Little Big House by Knox Bhavan Architects
A new-build energy-efficient house for a client with very specific physical needs
● WongAvery Gallery by Níall McLaughlin Architects
A new music practice and performance space for Trinity Hall, Cambridge
The nine projects were selected by the expert jury, who visited all shortlisted projects.
RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki, said:
“This year’s RIBA Award winning schemes showcase the true value of quality architecture, and the positive impact it has on people’s lives. While carefully considering the needs of the environment, these truly remarkable places and spaces deliver for communities, for residents, for visitors, and people of all ages up and down the country. They are pinnacles of design excellence, and show what can be achieved when architects and clients collaborate successfully.”
RIBA East Jury Chair, Gavin Henderson, said:
“The diverse range of projects recognised by the awards demonstrates the value that architects, working with ambitious and far-sighted clients, bring to schemes across the region.
These are projects that pay close attention to enhancing the experience and wellbeing of the people using the buildings, and to creating characterful, sustainable places of lasting value. At very different scales, whether an individual home or supporting a larger community, they demonstrate the role architecture can play in transforming lives, and illustrate that good design can, in a very real sense, be life-enhancing.”
Full list of the regional special awards announced this evening:
● Gainsborough's House Museum - RIBA East Building of the Year 2024 (Sponsored by EH Smith), RIBA East Conservation Award 2024
● Bluebird - RIBA East Client of the Year 2024, RIBA East Sustainability Award of the Year 2024 (Sponsored by Autodesk)
● The Little Big House (Fergus Knox) - RIBA East Project Architect of the Year 2024
RIBA East Award 2024 winners will now be considered for a highly coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence, which will be announced on 11 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.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- For further press information please contact
Bobby Jewell| bobby@bobby-jewell.com | 07915 566640
Robert Fiehn| rob@robertfiehn.com | 07814 078946 - High resolution images and jury citations: https://riba.box.com/v/RIBAEastWinners2024
- RIBA Special Awards are sponsored by EH Smith and Autodesk.
- The RIBA Awards have been running since 1966 and are judged and presented locally. No matter the shape, size, budget or location, RIBA Award winning schemes set the standard for great architecture all across the country. RIBA Awards are for buildings in the UK by RIBA Chartered Architects and RIBA International Fellows.
- Entries are submitted to the region or nation in which the building is situated. Projects are judged first for RIBA Regional Awards, then RIBA National Awards; the RIBA Stirling Prize shortlist is selected from winners of the RIBA National Awards.
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates.
