Three buildings win Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW) 2018 Welsh Architecture Awards

Yr Ysgwrn, Gwynedd, by Purcell (phs: Paul McMullin)
“The most satisfying achievement of Yr Ysgwrn is that the contemporary visitor experience seems very close to that which would have been enjoyed by visitors at any time over the past century, despite the significant architectural interventions that have transformed it into an efficient and sustainable cultural tourist attraction.”

St David’s Hospice, New In-Patient Unit, Newport, by KKE Architects (phs: Elaine Lewis, Ståle Eriksen
“The 15-bed, in-patient hospice is a development of the original 2013 Day Hospice, itself a shortlisted project. The new building owes much of its special quality to unusually insightful clients. Their brief for the new building applies evidence gathered in the operation of the charity’s other centres and awareness of international best practice. Lessons learned have been applied in the clinical and operational aspects but also, most importantly, in the nature of the ideal aesthetic environment for end-of-life care.”

University of Bangor Arts and Innovation Centre, Bangor, by Grimshaw (phs: Gyuri Szabo)
“The new Arts and Innovation Centre is known by its Welsh name, ‘Pontio’, meaning a bridging. Its objective is to bring the town together culturally, linguistically and topographically. The principal public facilities are the theatre, which replaces the obsolete Theatr Gwynedd, and a new cinema. Both function to high technical standards. The theatre is richly flexible: almost the entire seating area is installed on lifting platforms to enable reconfiguration for the widest range of productions.Visitors ascend a spectacular, crevasse-like atrium girdled by sweeping balcony ledges.”