Winning projects include a community centre and nursery, university library, and healthcare building

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.”

Storey’s Field Community Centre & Nursery, Cambridge, by MUMA (phs: Alan Williams)
“This is the very highest quality architecture. It shows how an architect can add joy, an enhanced experience of materials and human dimension to every part of a building. The spaces in the nursery are worthy of a much more sophisticated audience, but are always based around the scale and activities in each space. Where small windows are needed they are arranged in the pattern of constellations of stars (even with the correct orientation), where a decorative circular window from the enclosed garden is made out of a ventilation inlet grille, it is evidence of the skill, imagination and continuous attention to detail of the architect. This is a truly well crafted building, where material or technology is only used where it is needed.”

Storyhouse, Chester, by Bennetts Associates with Ellis Williams Architects (phs: Peter Cook, Mark Carline)
“An interesting and relevant new combination of public building typologies.”

The David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, by Nicholas Hare Architects (phs: Alan Williams, David Lowe)
“The repair and restoration of modern classic buildings require so much skill, care and research as more common conservation projects. At the David Attenborough building the architects here used all the traditional conservation skills but also connected with the spirit and muscularity of the original building.”

The Department Store, Brixton, by Squire & Partners (phs: James Jones)
“A stunning building which has been brought back to life. Exceedingly exquisite and sensitive restoration, filled with beautiful material choice, attention to details and wonderful spaces.”

The Leadenhall Building, by Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners (phs: John Safa, Mark Gorton, Paul Raftery, Richard Bryant)
“One of the more striking and elegant towers to have been added to the City’s jumbled skyline in recent years”

The Piece Hall and Calderdale Central Library and Archives, Halifax, by LDN Architects (phs: Bruce Fitzgerald, Paul White, Chris Lord, LDN)
“The Piece Hall is a Grade I listed unique and iconic Cloth Hall, dating from 1779. As a conservation project every stone has been carefully reviewed and repaired or replaced with appropriate restoration skills. But it is in the transformation of this building where the Design Team and clients ambition stands out. Previously the spaces were unheated, and the scheme includes new infrastructure and building services to deliver high quality commercial space for new businesses operating in shops and cafes. A new entrance (so called 4th gateway) has been added into the historic courtyard which for the first time creates permeability from town to centre to the railway station. Visitor numbers have soared.”

The Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre, Worcester College, Oxford, by Niall McLaughlin Architects (phs: Nick Kane, Keith Barnes)
“A building of extraordinary elegance… It is the natural materials, superbly honed, that ground the building and make it belong. It is the architectural design – the timeless pursuit of ordering space and light and form – that makes it a thing of pure joy.”

University of Birmingham Indoor Sports Centre, by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands (phs: Paul Riddle, Hufton & Crow)
“The centre provides a broad range of highly flexible and well equipped spaces that can be adapted for different sports and public events – a level of adaptability that in other sports facilities can sometimes result in a dullness of character, but here it is achieved with memorable civic spirit.”

University of Roehampton Library by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (phs: Hufton & Crow)
“A successful civic building, constructed with studious effort that offers its users a number of delightful places to undertake library work.”

Victoria & Albert Museum Exhibition Road Quarter by AL_A (phs: Hufton & Crow)
“Every once in a while an architect, a site and a client work seamlessly together to create a special moment in the city. The new courtyard, cafe, shop and gallery of the Exhibition Road Quarter is such a place in time.”

Victoria Hall Kings Cross by Stanton Williams (phs: John Sturrock)
“The effort in the detailing and setting out of components to achieve perfection has delivered an effortless design that fosters a sense of community and home. ”

Walthamstow Wetlands by Witherford Watson Mann (phs: Heini Schneebeli)
“The sensitive handling of the restoration of these historic buildings using a simple palette of materials has been particularly successful”

West Court Jesus College, Cambridge, by Niall McLaughlin Architects (phs: Nick Kane, Peter Cook)
“This extension to Jesus College manages the difficult trick of feeling entirely old fashioned in its use of hand crafted materials like oak, elm, red clay floor tiles and a soft red brick while remaining entirely modern in its loose geometry, use of daylight and simplicity of forms.”

Weston Street, Bermondsey, by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (phs: Timothy Soar)
“Exquisitely crafted modern homes. A tactile choice of materials are used coupled with beautiful interior detailing… This project has a sense of fun providing an alternative model for fluid space living across split levels”

White Collar Factory, Old Street, by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (phs: Timothy Soar)
“An exemplary development full of quality materials, finishes, details and playfulness; alongside public and community spirited generosity, innovation and experimentation (plus lots of lovely concrete).”