Astley Castle in Warwickshire, a renovation project designed by Witherford Watson Mann Architects has won the prize offered by the Royal Institute of British Architects which is considered one of the most prestigious architecture prizes in the world.
It the first time that either a house or a conservation project have won the prize and also the first time that a building with such a long history has been placed top.
Astley Castle is a 12th century fortified manor which had been lying in ruins since a fire gutted it in 1978. When the architects came to work on the building it was in a state of collapse and on the Heritage at Risk Register.
What has been built is no straightforward restoration. The building had seen additions and revisions carried out in almost every century since Medieval times, so knowing which period to emulate would have been impossible. The architect’s solution was to stabilise the ruin and create the next layer of the building’s history.
The judges said that the result is a highly complex and original new house giving the castle’s visitors a truly unique experience.
‘Astley Castle is an exceptional example of how modern architecture can revive an ancient monument. It is significant because rather than a conventional restoration project, the architects have designed an incredibly powerful contemporary house which is expertly and intricately intertwined with 800 years of history,’ said RIBA president Stephen Hodder at the award ceremony in London.
‘Every detail has been carefully considered, from a specific brick pattern to the exact angle of a view, resulting in a sensually rich experience for all who visit. This beautiful new building is a real labour of love. It was realised in true collaboration between a visionary client, designer and contractors,’ he added.
It was the first time Witherford Watson Mann has won or been shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize. Their previous buildings include the Amnesty International UK headquarters, the Whitechapel Art Gallery extension in London with Robbrecht en Daem, and the Arts Council Manchester.
Anna Keay, director of the Landmark Trust, who commissioned Witherford Watson Mann Architects to work on Astley Castle said they were thrilled by its success.
The other buildings on the short list were the Bishop King Edward Chapel in Cuddesdon, Oxfordshire, by Niall McLaughlin Architects; the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre in Northern Ireland by Heneghan Oeng architects; Newhall Be in Harlow by Alison Brooks Architects, Park Hill Phase 1 in Sheffield by Hawkins\Brown with Studio Egret West; and the University of Limerick Medical School by Grafton Architects.
The winners of the RIBA Lubetkin Prize for the best international building and three special awards were also announced. Cool Conservatories, Gardens by the Bay in Singapore by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, won the RIBA Lubetkin Prize for the most outstanding work of international architecture outside the European Union by a member of the RIBA. This is the second year running for Wilkinson Eyre Architects, who won the prize last year for the Guangzhou International Finance Centre in China.
Slip House in Brixton, South London, by Carl Turner Architects won the RIBA Manser Medal for the best new private home. The Montpelier Community Nursery by AY architects won the RIBA’s 2013 Stephen Lawrence Prize set up in memory of Stephen Lawrence who was setting out on the road to becoming an architect when he was murdered in 1993.
And the National Trust won the 2013 RIBA Client of the Year award that recognises the role good clients play in the delivery of fine architecture.
