Walmer Castle and Gardens Learning Centre, Kent

Adam Richards Architects for English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund
Contract value: £935,000 
GIA: 200m² 
Cost per m²: £4,675

This newbuild 70m² Learning Centre, in brick and zinc, and a new café in a repurposed timber-framed glasshouse, together provide a place of shelter, education and interpretation from which visitors can explore the entire grounds of Walmer Castle, originally a Tudor artillery fortress. Beyond the buildings the practice has reorganised the gardeners’ compound. Into this landscape it has set a galvanised steel stair clad in air-dried oak, leading down into the secluded contemplative retreat of the Glen, which was previously innaccessible.

See the rest of the South East shortlist here. And all the RIBA Regional Awards shortlists here.