Four projects including work from Níall McLaughlin Architects, Purcell and Flanagan Lawrence, among others, are in the running for the RIBA North East Awards 2024.
Photograph by Nick Kane
Four projects have been revealed as in the running for the RIBA North East Awards 2024, announced today (Thursday 8th February).
“This year’s shortlisted projects are playful in their creative use of design interventions. Covering a range of typologies, these buildings have all made a positive contribution to their North East locality: whether socially, environmentally or through clear concept and materiality combined,” RIBA North East jury chair, Emily Posey, associate at Eric Parry Architects, said in a statement. “The challenges of the brief have been met with unique responses, while bringing joy to the architectural process and end user experience.”
Regional award winners will be considered for further ‘RIBA Special Awards,’ including the RIBA Sustainability Award and RIBA Building of the Year, before being considered for the RIBA National Award, which will be announced later this year in summer. From that, the shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize will be compiled, with the shortlist announced this September and the winners unveiled in October.
View the four projects in this year’s RIBA North East Awards below.
Auckland Castle, Tower and Faith Museum by Níall McLaughlin Architects & Purcell
County Durham
Photograph by David Valinsky
Once the home of the Prince Bishops of Durham, Auckland Castle is an important historic site, and home to one of the best-preserved bishops’ palaces in Europe.
Níall McLaughlin Architects has added a ‘Welcome Building’ to host ticketing and information services, which has been incorporated into a timber tower which defines the project. Working with Purcell, a new faith museum has also been added, extending in turn the Scotland Wing of the Grade I listed castle complex.
Fire Station Auditorium, by Flanagan Lawrence and Howarth Litchfield
Sunderland
Photography by Andrew Heptinstall
A winner in the 2022 Schüco Awards run by AT, the Fire Station Auditorium is part of Sunderland’s Music, Arts and Cultural Quarter and aims to revitalise the city centre by addressing Sunderland’s lack of suitable music venues. In doing so, it provides up to 450 seated or 750 standing guests, being designed to host for music, drama, dance and comedy performances, as well as conferences.
The auditorium extends the Edwardian Fire Station’s public space into its foyer, creating a destination for the town centre. Clad in terracotta brise soleil to match the Fire Station’s red brick, the auditorium blends with its surroundings, featuring a sculptural brick façade and an outdoor stage for simultaneous performances.
Percy Cottage by Elliott Architects
Northumberland
Elliott Architects has added extensions to either side of a Grade II listed building, creating two new pavilions in the process. A timber bedroom wing, connected to the original property by a glazed bridge, looks southward, down the garden and onto a nearby river.
The cottage’s northern extension houses a contemporary living area and forms a new entrance to the house. The addition is also separated from the existing building by a glazed link, with this new, modern extension hidden from public view behind a garden wall.
Raven Tower, by Newton Architects with s h e d Structural Engineers
Northumberland
Developed by Hesleyside Huts as part a coterie of unique holiday retreats, Raven Tower sits within the picturesque landscape of Hesleyside Hall. The tower’s design draws from imagery of Border conflicts, featuring arrow slit windows and a stacked layout within a tall tower nestled into its woodland surroundings. Raven tower has been constructed using timber framing, charred timber cladding, triple-glazed windows and mostly natural insulation for energy efficiency.
The main entrance to the building is via an external stone stairway which leads to the tower’s first floor. Here, the tower’s main window frames elevated views from a living room through the trees, while a large rooflight in the bathroom facilitates skyward vistas of the tree canopy and clouds.
