Primary, Nottingham

2025 RIBA East Midlands Award 
2025 RIBA East Midlands Building of the Year EH Smith
2025 RIBA East Midlands Client of the Year Equitone
2025 RIBA East Midlands Small Project of the Year

Primary, Nottingham
Pricegore for Primary

Contract value: £240,000
GIA: 1,570m²
Cost per m²: £153

Artist-led charity Primary has transformed a characterful, former Victorian school building in the Radford neighbourhood of Nottingham into an inspiring cultural hub. The Grade II-listed building is now the home of 50 diverse artists, with former classrooms refitted into bright and functional studios and gallery spaces fostering an environment that encourages artistic exploration and collaboration.

A varied and engaging programme of free exhibitions and public events is at the heart of Primary’s mission. The organisation offers an array of workshops, including hands-on making sessions, community cooking groups and after-school toy libraries, all designed to bring people together and nurture creativity. The site is also home to a thoughtfully curated bookshop and an award-winning bakery, both of which add to the welcoming and communal atmosphere of the development.

The heart of the development is the former playground. Previously separated into two tarmacked play spaces at different levels, it has been connected with level access throughout. 

This multifunctional space features a shed with recycled materials for artists to use, an outdoor kitchen and a productive garden, all contributing to a sense of shared purpose and sustainability. It serves as a meeting point for artists and visitors alike, facilitating new connections and creative exchanges in an open and inviting setting. 

Architect Pricegore has created a series of skilful and sensitive interventions to remodel the previously enclosed environment into a welcoming and inclusive public building. Works include a bold and inviting new entrance gate, a playful canopy over a new main door and a communal kitchen, where an oversized internal window invites participation and camaraderie.

The sloping site presented accessibility challenges that have been tactfully overcome by an integrated platform lift, allowing for a level route through the lower floors of the building. If modest in scale and budget, every intervention has been thoughtfully designed and detailed with care, precision and a deep sensitivity to the building’s character and function.

The first phase of the works is complete, enabling Primary to thrive as a dynamic artistic hub. This project’s success is twofold. The careful repurposing of the historic building ensures its long-term preservation. 

Meanwhile, ongoing knowledge exchange, participation and engagement between artists and audiences strengthen Primary as a unique cultural asset. This refreshing space fosters collaboration, creativity and community, reaching beyond its immediate neighbourhood to inspire and connect people from all walks of life.

See the rest of the RIBA East Midlands winners here. And all the RIBA UK Awards here.

To see the whole RIBA Awards process visit architecture.com.

RIBA UK Awards 2025 sponsored by Autodesk, EH Smith, Equitone and VELUX