From a bridge and theatre to zero-carbon housing and a scout hut, a rich longlist of community and sustainable projects offer judges plenty to choose from for the 2022 RIBAJ MacEwen Award
Here is the first stage in the RIBA Journal's MacEwen Awards celebration of architecture for the common good. This year’s longlist sees architects helping the high street adjust to Covid 19. Projects reworking retail include Dallas-Pierce-Quintero’s wide ranging Culture Palace (above) that gave the local authority museum space replacing that which had been displaced by a vaccination centre and brokered peppercorn leases that has brought independents and new activity to Enfield. And two shop takeovers that directly address the food poverty and employment issues that have only become more pronounced during the pandemic.
The majority of the longlist take an old building and make it new. They range from improving acoustic and bring spaces to life with dramatic but inexpensive paint schemes to tackling a complex much loved and mothballed Victorian library in Liverpool. And how do can you make the best use of that unique building type – a morgue? Civic show how it can be done with their Links recording studio.
These are enriching projects. It is apt we celebrate them on some of year’s darkest days – a reminder of the light good architecture can bring.
For ease we have grouped them in four categories, click below to go to each.
Urban and rural revitalisation
Check back here for the MacEwen shortlist on 17th January and the winner and commended projects on 1 Feb.
Bat & Ball Centre, Sevenoaks, Kent by Theis + Khan
Renovation of tired community centre in regeneration area
Culture Palace, Enfield Palace Gardens by Dallas-Pierce-Quintero
Bringing creative energy to vacant shops by brokering deals and creating exciting space
Full Circle @ Docklands Youth & Community Centre, St Pauls, Bristol by Askew Cavanna Architects
Consultation with 120 people informed this inexpensive refurbishment
Grange Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales by IBI Group, Benham Architects, Grange Pavilion CIO and Cardiff University Community Gateway.
Striking park pavilion with a big mission in Cardiff's most ethnically diverse area
Lighthouse, Monks Hill, Croydon by Atelier Ellis
Gathering place for church and community replacing portacabins with CLT hall
St Margaret’s Church, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire by Studio BAD Architects
Workshopped, phased interventions make many new activities possible from play and café to food bank
The Bale House, Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve, Lower Coastguard Lane, Hastings by The Cave Co-operative Ltd
Visitor centre with craft-based build of natural materials with the help of volunteers
The Old Library, Green Lane, Liverpool by OMI Architects
Substantial refurbishment of local Victorian landmark with nursery and community uses
Wiki-House Scout Hut, Whalley Range, Manchester by Architecture Unknown
Working with Wiki-House and structural ply enabled volunteers to a play a large part in this project
Black Country & Marches Institute of Technology, Zoological Way, Dudley by Cullinan Studio on behalf of the Dudley IoT Project Alliance (Dudley College, Cundall, Speller Metcalfe, GCA, Derry Building Services, Fulcro and Cullinan Studio)
Experimental insurance model helped the whole construction team to pull together to create a sustainable and inexpensive vocational college
The National Youth Theatre, Holloway Road, London by DSDHA
Serving more young people and the local street within a refurbishment doubling the space
Writtle Junior School Pod, Writtle, Chelmsford Essex by Junior Hard Hats (charity set up as part of this project)
Playground structure which closely involved the school children from design to location to planning
Home Made Lockleaze, Lockleaze, Bristol by SNUG Homes / Ecomotive
First of series of net zero-carbon modular housing in deprived neighbourhood being built with community involvement
Links Studios, Canning Town, East London by civic
Music as a hook for learning in sound recording studio that uses strong walls of converted morgue for acoustic absorption
Nourish Hub, Edward Wood Estate, LB Hammersmith & Fulham by Nourish Hub by RCKa and Inner Circle Consulting
Shops turned food bank and café using co-creation through business plan, design and operation with the aim of eliminating hunger and foodwaste
Polka Theatre, Wimbledon, London by Foster Wilson Size
Playful remodelling and new building for children's theatre
The Alder Centre, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Small rooms and garden connections make a special space for counselling those with sick and dying children.
The Archives, Tottenham, London by ROAR
Creative light touch meanwhile reconfigurations of large building in path of Crossrail showing the value of design
The Chad Gordon Autism Campus, Waltheof Gardens, Haringey by Pedder & Scampton Architects with Haringey Adult Learning Disability & Autism Team, Haringey Corporate Landlord, Centre 404, SCALD (Severe Complex Autism and Learning Difficulties Reference Group) and ALAG (Asperger London Area Group)
Ingenious repair and repurposing with an eye to sensory issues.
The Harington Scheme, 42-46 High Street, Hornsey, London by Mulroy Architects
Refurb of high street terraces as charity shop and employability hub
A Common Plan for Claridge Way, Claridge Way, the Moorings, Thamesmead, London by Jan Kattein Architects with Peabody
Thamesmead route turned into a series of events working with different community groups
Bedford Place, Southampton, Hampshire by Studio BAD Architects
Locally-inspired activation of public space with paint and barriers
Pavilion, Stratford, ACME for Stratford City Business District Ltd
Eye catching timber pavilion as new entry point to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Peveril Gardens and Studios, Great Dover St, London by Sanchez Benton architects
Secret first floor garden on old podium with artist studio space below
Pooley New Bridge, Pooley Bridge, Cumbria by Knight Architects
Beautiful bridge in Cumbria connecting remote village that relies on tourism
With thanks to our supporters, BDP