Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre, Whitburn, near Sunderland

2025 RIBA North East Award 

Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre, Whitburn, nr. Sunderland
MawsonKerr Architects for National Trust

Contract value: £575,000
GIA: 100m²
Cost per m²: £5,750
 
Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre is the result of a collaboration between the National Trust and the SeaScapes marine landscape partnership scheme. Nestled in the beautiful coastal setting of the Grade II*-listed Souter Lighthouse, it is envisioned as a community hub for nature conservation and interpretation. The building sits quietly in the landscape in contrast with the imposing scale of the lighthouse. 

Located on a challenging site with multiple constraints, the sculpted form of the Conservation Centre hovers over the ground. Its structure navigates drainage pipes, ordnance contamination and a public footpath while hugging the hillside, which is a key site for netting and ringing migrating birds. 

The exterior is clad in recycled plastic tiles which look like slates at first sight. This surprisingly beautiful cladding is elevated by careful and crisp detailing. The tiles themselves tell an important story, highlighting the damage to the coast from plastic and landfill sites. 

Inside, the building provides welcome respite from the bracing coastal air, with the cross-laminated timber (CLT) creating a calming hush. The spaces are all punctuated by beautifully-framed views of the landscape beyond, making sense of the external geometry.

A small but mighty programme of spaces makes this building feel Tardis-like. A public toilet, accessible at all times, provides much-needed facilities for walkers on the coastal path. 

A multifunctional interpretation area links through to space for the bird ringers, who need to catch and release the birds within a 20-minute window – and are served by a handy opening onto the mound to release them afterwards. The generous main space can be adapted to suit a range of uses, from interpretation and education associated with the lighthouse to community activities and even a vintage clothes fair.

The building follows Passivhaus principles for airtightness and exemplary energy performance. This, alongside the CLT and recycled plastic slates, reflects the impressive ambition of the National Trust to do the best they can for the environment. Their determination to push for higher performance, in spite of the site’s multiple challenges, is to be celebrated.

This project is about so much more than its programme. It reflects a commitment to providing value to the local community, as well as the National Trust’s ongoing stewardship of these special sites.

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

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

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