A truly extraordinary piece of architecture
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios for Conventus of our Lady of Consolation, Stanbrook Abbey
Contract value: £7.5m
GIA: 6,836m2
Building of the Year, sponsored by Marley Eternit
Stanbrook Abbey, a new monastery in the North York Moors National Park for an enclosed order of Benedictine Nuns, is a truly extraordinary piece of architecture. The design aimed to foster contemplation through its simplicity, beauty, sense of space and tranquillity, taking full advantage of natural light and views over the Vale of York. The layout is a response to both the site and the brief, allowing for privacy where needed and public access where appropriate.
The Sisters were rigorous in seeing that their brief was interpreted and delivered with care and affection. The experience of walking into the chapel is truly uplifting. The building is a perfectly contextual form that simply grows from the landscape. Its straightforward palette of materials – oak, stone and copper – demonstrates a thorough ethos carried through from the clients. They live a simple, disciplined lifestyle and the building truly reflects this in every element.
See the other winners of the RIBA Regional Awards 2016 – Yorkshire