New developments at York Theatre Royal and Liverpool Philharmonic have been identified as important architectural projects in the 2017 regional awards.
Hufton+Crow
New arts and cultural facilities are among the 2017 winners of RIBA’s Regional Awards for architecture, including several developments at schools and higher education establishments.
The RIBA Regional Awards are given to buildings deemed by the Royal Institute of British Architects to be of “regional importance as a piece of architecture”.
This year, awards to arts organisations have gone to York Theatre Royal, which has created the additional space it needed to engage a wider community and become more financially resilient; and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, which judges described as an “exemplary restoration in which the detail has all been carefully researched and beautifully crafted”.
In the education sector, those recognised include Chetham’s School of Music, and music facilities for Brighton College and Wells Cathedral School. At Bedales School, where an existing art and design facility was replaced, architects worked with “meaningful student involvement” throughout the project, including participation in the selection of the architect and decisions on the use of spaces and detail.
All other awards to cultural facilities went to major London institutions, with Tate Modern’s Switch House, the British Museum, the Design Museum and the Science Museum all on the list.
The regional winners are all now being considered for RIBA National Awards in recognition of their architectural excellence. These will be announced on 22 June.
Last year, Home in Manchester was among the national award winners. Previous awards to arts facilities have gone to Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre and a gallery housing Damien Hirst’s private art collection, both of which later went on to win the coveted RIBA Stirling Prize.
 |