Among the contenders for a 2024 RIBA North East Award is the conversion of Sunderland fire station into a 750-capacity music venue by Flanagan Lawrence and Howarth Litchfield, and the renovation of Auckland Castle into a faith, art and heritage centre by Stirling Prize-winner Níall McLaughlin Architects and Purcell.
Also in the running is Percy Cottage, the extension of a Grade II-listed building in Northumberland by Elliott Architects, and Raven Tower, a holiday retreat within the Capability Brown Landscape of Hesleyside Hall by Newton Architects with shed structural engineers.
Last year, all six of the schemes shortlisted for RIBA honours in the North East went on to receive regional awards.
The six winning practices were: Mosedale Gillat Architects; FaulknerBrown Architects; Building Design Northern; MawsonKerr; Purcell; and Chance de Silva. FaulknerBrown won North East award for two years running, in 2022 and 2023, with its restoration of the Grade II-listed Newcastle Civic Centre and its £42 million City Hall for Sunderland City Council respectively.
But none of the 2023 projects – including Mosedale Gillat Architects’ 17Nineteen project, named the region’s building of the year – went on to pick up RIBA National Awards.
RIBA North East jury chair Emily Posey, associate of Eric Parry Architects, said this year’s shortlisted projects were all ‘playful in their creative use of design interventions’.
She added: ‘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.
‘The challenges of the brief have been met with unique responses while bringing joy to the architectural process and end-user experience.’
A regional jury will now visit and assess all the shortlisted projects, and the winning projects will be announced in the spring.
These regional award winners are considered for several RIBA awards, including the RIBA Sustainability Award and the North East Building of the Year.
They will also be in the running for a RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence, the results of which will be announced in the summer.
The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will then be drawn from the national award-winning projects, and the Stirling Prize winner will be announced in October.
Shortlist (in full) for 2024 RIBA North East architecture awards
- Auckland Castle, Tower and Faith Museum, County Durham, by Níall McLaughlin Architects & Purcell
- Fire Station Auditorium, Sunderland, by Flanagan Lawrence and Howarth Litchfield
- Percy Cottage, Northumberland, by Elliott Architects
- Raven Tower, Northumberland, by Newton Architects with shed structural engineers
Source:Jack Boothby
Raven Tower Northumberland, by Newton Architects