The winners of The Royal Institute of British Architects National Awards 2021 were announced on 9th September.
The awards celebrate the best architecture throughout the UK, with the 54 winners having been selected from the 2021 regional award winners.
Many of this year’s winners are located in London including an amazing floating church in east London and the beautifully designed Kingston University London Town House.
President Simon Alford spoke about the importance of the educational establishments included in the award winners, such as the School of Science and Sport at Brighton College. He also drew attention to projects which adapted existing buildings and acknowledged how the architects endeavoured to modify existing features sensitively while maximising “the potential of their dynamic future”. One such winner is this unique house within a house in London.
All 54 of the National Award winners are now eligible for the Stirling Prize for the best building of the year, which was last awarded in 2019 having been cancelled last year due to the COVID pandemic.
You can view the full list of all 54 stunning award winning buildings here. The next call for UK awards entries will be this year, for the 2022 RIBA awards.
A selection of RIBA National Award winners within London
Many of 2021’s RIBA National Award winners are located within London. Here’s just a brief insight into the diversity of the projects that made the cut.
What could otherwise have been a nondescript London apartment block has been created in a dramatic and unconventional style. The exterior combines apartments on separate planes across the different floors and mismatched windows across the facade – it almost brings to mind a stylish version of a minecraft masterpiece!
Centre for Creative Learning, Francis Holland School
An extraordinary library space, described by the architect as ‘magical’. The way in which such a beautiful space has been seamlessly integrated within an urban London setting has to be seen to be believed. From the sculptural roof-lights creating bright indoor spaces to the charming urban roof garden, it’s easy to see why this project has won its award.
The new headquarters of the Royal College of Pathologists in London has been designed and built to incorporate not only workspaces and meeting areas, but also ballrooms, exhibition areas, social spaces, and even overnight guest suites. This bold modern building now provides an impressive and sustainable headquarters for the institution.
The Standard hotel, which stands at the junction of Argyle Street and Euston Road, is a refurbishment and vertical extension of the former Camden council offices. In addition to the intelligently designed layout, the architect has delivered a variety of solutions to reduce the building’s carbon footprint and has utilised an extensive range of sustainable technologies.
Unusually located on a London highstreet, the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium offers an exceptional visitor experience for the club’s supporters. With a 62,850 capacity, the stands have been designed to give optimum viewing angles while allowing supporters to be as close to the pitch as possible. The area is also designed to maximise daylight while still retaining sound within the stadium. The building incorporates other functions such as retail and educational spaces, and features an artificial American Football pitch underneath the main grass pitch, which can be slid away.
Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children
The Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children brings together the expertise of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and University College London. The building showcases the important work done within it through visible research spaces around the entrance area. The intelligent design then incorporates light and bright work areas, as well as comfortable and functional treatment rooms for children and their families with pleasant outside views in waiting areas. The architects have succeeded in delivering a joyful building which houses a serious and important purpose.