Architecture Unknown scoops two prizes at the BUILD Magazine Architecture Awards

Manchester’s Architecture Unknown is celebrating two wins at this year’s BUILD Magazine Architecture Awards.

The Ancoats-based practice scooped two prizes this month for its work on Peel Park Community Centre in Salford.

Charlie Butterwick and Daniel Kelso, founders of Architecture Unknown, took home the ‘Most Community-Focused Architecture Practice 2025’ and the ‘Best Community Centre Project 2025 (Northern England).

Peel Park opened its doors in February this year. The impressive £950k project was built using a zero-carbon, modular design system called WikiHouse – making it one of the greenest buildings in Salford.

WikiHouse is often described as the IKEA of construction, offering the opportunity for anyone to get in on the build. In June 2024, around 60 local school children were among the local volunteers who helped to get construction underway at the centre. More than 100 volunteers from the Little Hulton, Salford, also came down to lend a hand on the construction site.

Director and Design Lead, Daniel Kelso from Architecture Unknown, said: “Well over 1000 hours of donated sweat equity has gone into making this building, the award really honours that hard work.

“For Architecture Unknown, Peel Park is the heart of what we do; community lead architecture that creates artistic and functional spaces that will enrich an area for many years to come. We a very proud to win the awards as they celebrate our talented team, our core business values and the passion behind our design.”

The BUILD awards recognise those who work seamlessly as a team, listen to and truly hear their clients, and those who innovate through their process from start to finish.

Awards Coordinator for the Build Magazine Architecture Awards, Kaven Cooper commented on the success of this year’s winners: “Learning more about our winners’ journeys is always a delight, and this year’s Architecture Awards process has been an exhilarating process.

“It’s so wonderful to see the positive impact our awardees have on the rest of the world, especially as their creativity and dependability ripple out across surrounding communities by means of their designs and creations. Here’s to the next half of 2025, and beyond.”

To find out more about these prestigious awards, and the dedicated professionals selected for them, visit:

 https://www.build-review.com/awards/architecture-awards/.

The UK’s best new architecture – RIBA National Awards 2025 winners announced

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the winners of the RIBA National Awards 2025 for architecture. The Awards, which have been presented since 1966, recognise the best of UK architecture and provide insight into the country's design and social trends.

Winning projects range across every corner of the country, from the Isle of Wight to Scotland and Northern Ireland. Diverse in scale, from Astra Zeneca’s monumental curved “triangular” research facility (The Discovery Centre), and London College of Fashion’s striking “vertical campus” in Stratford, to the sensitive conservation of two dilapidated farm buildings in the Isle of Wight (The Old Byre) and the transformation of a former Battersea shop unit into a flexible home and office at Costa’s Barbers.

The power of architecture to influence and transform communities was central to many of this year’s winners. Appleby Blue Almshouse in Southwark showcases how thoughtful sequencing can foster communal interaction and thereby reduce social isolation. Similarly, Hazelmead, Bridport Cohousing is designed to cultivate an open, connected community for its 53 homes.

Meanwhile, the red-brick Sidcup Storyteller has become a focal point in the high-street regeneration of the area, while the fire damaged Sheerness Dockyard Church has been sensitively restored into a vibrant community facility. Transformation also takes more human forms. HMP & YOI Stirling offers a therapeutic, trauma informed design that integrates the surrounding landscape and supports rehabilitation at this women's prison, while Hope Street, in Southampton, offers a quietly radical model for supporting women in the justice system, demonstrating how architecture can be a powerful agent for meaningful social change.

Restoration and conservation are equally prominent. In London, the Elizabeth Tower, home to Big Ben, stands as a masterpiece in conservation and heritage preservation, while the renovation of the Young V&A in East London takes a dark site into a bright, energising cultural destination. In Scotland, the sensitive restorations of two Grade A listed buildings, Aldourie Castle Estate and Fairburn Tower, highlights the merits of local skills and traditional techniques.

Commenting on the winning projects, 2025 RIBA Awards Group Chair, Simon Henley, said:

“Congratulations to each of this year's RIBA National Award winners. Each of these 20 winning projects is a powerful testament to the diversity and depth of our profession. They demonstrate how architecture is not just a creative force, but also central in addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time.  

This year’s winners reflect the many and varied ways architects are being asked to work, and their incredible motivation and breadth of expertise. As a profession, we now look to the past as much as the future, and to care and repair as we do to build. We continue to innovate but we also seek continuity, and in so doing to make work of every scale that is engaging and thoughtful. The power of architecture to transform society and inform our way of life is on full display in every winning project.” 

The 20 RIBA National Award 2025 winners are:   

8 Bleeding Heart Yard by GROUPWORK - A highly detailed retrofit of a lifeless 1970s office building into a richly layered, sustainable workplace.   

Aldourie Castle Estate by Ptolemy Dean Architects Ltd - An elegant and exemplary conservation of a Grade A listed estate using local materials and crafts. 

Appleby Blue Almshouse by Witherford Watson Mann Architects - A contemporary almshouse in Southwark cleverly designed to reduce social isolation for older generations 

Citizens House by Archio - A community led development off 11 affordable homes in a former backyard garage site in Lewisham. 

Costa’s Barbers by Brisco Loran and Arrant Industries - A Battersea shop unit has been imaginatively converted into a flexible home and office. 

Elizabeth Tower by Purcell - Housing the symbolic bell and timepiece of the nation (Big Ben), the most comprehensive restoration of Elizabeth Tower in 160 years is a masterpiece in conservation and craftsmanship. 

Fairburn Tower by Simpson & Brown for The Landmark trust - A meticulous conservation effort has restored a dilapidated Category A listed structure using traditional craftmanship. 

Hastings House by Hugh Strange Architects - An inventive and finely detailed extension to a late 19th century house, working at the intersection of ethics and aesthetics. 

Hazelmead, Bridport Cohousing by Barefoot Architects - 53 timber-framed affordable homes form a sustainable, co-housing development in Bridport that is designed to embrace community.  

HMP & YOI Stirling by Holmes Miller - A therapeutic, trauma-informed women’s prison that provides spaces that promote dignity, equality and meaningful rehabilitation. 

Hope Street by Snug Architects - A quietly radical model for supporting women in the justice system, the modest architecture balances opposing needs to leave a lasting impact.   

London College of Fashion by Allies and Morrison - A monumental piece of civic architecture, the new LCF brings together six former sites into one “vertical campus” on Stratford’s East Bank waterfront.  

Niwa House by Takero Shimazaki Architects - A timber framed, tranquil, Japanese style home designed to be fully wheelchair accessible. 

Sheerness Dockyard Church by Hugh Broughton Architects - A twice fire-damaged Grade-II* listed church has been exquisitely restored and transformed into a community facility.   

Sidcup Storyteller by DRDH Architects - A bold new red-brick library, cinema and co-working space has become the centrepiece of the high-street regeneration of Sidcup.   

Student Hub, Queens Business School Belfast by TODD Architects - An innovative and sustainable learning space that blends sensitively into the surrounding woodlands. 

The Discovery Centre (DISC) by Herzog & de Meuron / BDP - A welcoming, “triangular” medical research facility for AstraZeneca blending thoughtful placemaking with scientific innovation.   

The Old Byre by Gianni Botsford Architects - This conversion of two understated farm buildings on the Isle of Wight creates a new home while also offering residency and working spaces for visiting artists.  

Triangle House by Artefact - A playful and inventive extension to a 1950’s suburban home in Surrey 

Young V&A by AOC Architecture and De Matos Ryan - The former Museum of Childhood has been reimagined into a light, bright and energising cultural destination for young visitors.  

RIBA National Award 2025 winners will now be considered for the highly coveted RIBA Stirling Prize for the UK’s best new architecture, the shortlist of which will be announced on 4 September. 

BCIA President's Blog: Awards - The incredible power of recognition and acknowledgement

Stacey Lucas, President of the Building Controls Industry Association

Earlier this month, we celebrated the best the building controls sector had to offer at the BCIA Awards 2025 ceremony. As usual, it was a tremendous evening but it also got me thinking about the importance of acknowledging innovation and dedication and how award nominations and success can inspire not only the winners but anyone in the industry.

Every single award category was hotly contested and, as the President of the BCIA, I had the very privileged but unenviable task of sitting on the judging panel. It was incredibly tough to choose between the multitude of deserving nominees but it showed me first-hand the huge depth and quality of our inspiring and important industry.

However, even those that didn’t win should take great pride in their efforts and understand that even being nominated and shortlisted is an immense honour. Indeed, even simply being put up for an award can be incredibly transformative. Plus, in a world where competition can be fierce and visibility is critical, awards are more than just shiny trophies – they can be powerful tools for motivation, long-term growth, and credibility.

The importance of validation

Whether winning an award or simply nominated, those participating can often take a significant confidence boost from just being involved. For individuals, this can typically serve as external validation for their hard work, expertise, and impact on the industry – be it their significant involvement in a project or their determination to enhance their development and ensure a brighter future for the built environment.

It's also important to note that receiving acknowledgement of their hard work and dedication can often reassure individuals that they are on the right path in their career – making a huge difference in competitive industries such as ours where self-doubt can be fairly common.

Increased motivation

Recipients or those nominated for awards often find themselves uncovering depths of motivation and drive they never knew they had, too. In fact, simply being nominated and appreciated for their efforts can instil a sense of responsibility to uphold the standard that led to the recognition. As a result, this can often inspire further personal or professional development – leading to a more promising future for the industry in which they work.

Enhanced visibility and credibility

For organisations and businesses, awards can significantly enhance credibility and reputation in the eyes of clients, investors, and others across the industry. The exposure from being named in publications and marketing material promoting the awards and the ceremony can shine a positive spotlight on the organisations participating, even if they don’t win.

No matter if the awards are for innovation, sustainability, customer service, or a particular product, nominations and award wins can often act as third-party endorsements that help businesses attract new clients and build trust.

A competitive advantage

In busy industries such as ours, standing out is absolutely critical. There’s no better way of doing that than by being nominated for, or even winning an award. By serving as a sign of real quality and reliability – key factors in purchasing decisions for money-conscious consumers – awards can help to influence customer choice.

In fact, awards can truly set businesses, organisations, and brands apart from their competition in a highly crowded marketplace.

Employee morale and retention

It’s also worth noting the impact that award success, or even just the honour of being nominated, can have on the business’ employees. Indeed, celebrating the collective success can often see a significant boost to employee morale and productivity.

Furthermore, team members will feel recognised and valued, not only potentially reducing burnout but fostering a positive work culture and improving employee retention rates.

In addition to likely prompting those already in the company to stay, award nominations and success will also have a huge impact on incomings. Those outside the company will be keen to work for an organisation that is having a positive impact on the industry and the environment as a whole.

So, whether winning an award, being shortlisted, or being nominated, this can often be a catalyst for pride, growth, and future success.

Lastly, I’d just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended the ceremony and contributed to what was an amazing evening. No matter if you were a winner or a finalist, you represented the building controls sector superbly and showed just how innovative and inspiring this industry can be. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event and I hope to see all of you there. 

The Flooring Show 2024: A record-breaking celebration of innovation and networking!

Celebrating its largest edition to date, The Flooring Show welcomed hundreds of brands and thousands of visitors to the Harrogate Convention Centre from 15-17 September, for a fantastic 3 days of purchasing, networking and innovation.

Thanks to the expansion into Hall Q the show was able to welcome more names than ever before and consequently saw the highest number of exhibitors and visitors in attendance in its 62-year history.

Brands

Over 400 brands featured at this year’s show, across 6 halls and 2 hotels. The show featured an impressive array of displays from top flooring manufacturers. Visionary professionals in the industry presented an extensive variety of products spanning the breadth of the industry. Attendees had the chance to view and touch numerous flooring samples, exploring a wide spectrum of colours, textures, materials, and designs. Suppliers seized the opportunity to present their latest collections, debut new products, and engage directly with distributors. Many exhibitors went the extra mile with interactive booths, offering games, prize draws, and live demonstrations to captivate visitors.

Features

The Flooring Show is not just about purchasing. The show offers opportunity for improving industry knowledge and discovering new products. Across all three days of the show, the Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA), supported by the Contract Flooring Association (CFA) and the National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers (NICF), hosted the Demo Zone. The expert instructors provided insightful demonstrations for visitors on a range of new techniques and products including subfloor moisture solutions, smoothing compounds, adhesives, domestic vinyl, engineered wood floor, floating floor systems, carpet underlay, and LVT installations amongst others.

The Campaign for Wool and the Wool Carpet Focus Group collaborated again in the Wool Trends Centre, creating a space where visitors could see a carefully curated display of the latest wool carpet trends from a selection of leading wool flooring suppliers, including organic textures, natural wool colours, bright shades for plains and patterning and ‘carpet art’ for hallways and stair areas. The Campaign for Wool and British Wool also used the show to promote the return of Shaun the Sheep as ‘ambaaa-ssador’ as part of a collaborative promotional campaign ‘Shaun Loves Wool’ to help educate and promote wool flooring as sustainable and good for the planet.

New for 2024, the Design Spotlight created a dedicated space in Hall Q for those visitors looking for unique, design-driven, innovative residential and commercial flooring solutions. Participating brands included Bjelin UK, Brooks Bros (UK) Ltd, V4, Veeuze, and Welfloor.

Competition

The NICF Fitter of the Year competition took place across Sunday 15th and Monday 16th in the King’s Suite, with a focus on carpet installation. Five finalists, Darren Ash, Richard Long, Joni Reeves, Gareth Williams, and Steve Whitburn, went head-to-head, with Richard Long coming away as the 2024 champion. This year’s much-loved ‘judges challenge’ was awarded to Steve Whitburn after his impressive waistcoat made of waste carpet wowed the judges. Congratulations to all competitors!

Sustainability

Back for a second year, the Sustainability Trail showcased the exhibitors actively working toward a more environmentally friendly future through their implementation of sustainable practices. On Sunday 15th, at the exhibitor drinks reception, the champion of the Sustainability Award 2024 was announced. Well-deserved winners, Texfelt Ltd, believe it “Shouldn’t cost the earth to save the earth”. The extensive policies they have in place to reduce their environmental impact, clear goals for 2025 and beyond, and recent launch of their Springbond Eco-Step 8mm range made Texfelt Ltd deserving winners. A big thank you to our judges: The Carpet Council, Floorsauce, Unlock Net Zero and John Lewis.

Group Exhibition Director, Alex Butler, reflected on this year’s show, remarking “Thank you to all the visitors and exhibitors who supported The Flooring Show 2024. It was fantastic to see the entire flooring industry come together, and the sense of community and collaboration was clearly evident from start to finish. This year was extra special with the launch of Hall Q, and we couldn’t be happier with the feedback we’ve received. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back next year for an even bigger and better event… watch this space!”

More content from this year’s show will be revealed over the coming months. Be sure to keep an eye on The Flooring Show’s website and social media platforms to stay up to date with the latest happenings.

If you’re interested in visiting or exhibiting at our 2025 event taking place from 21-23 September at the Harrogate Convention Centre, head to theflooringshow.com to register your interest.

Workspace Design Show 2024 another resounding success

The Workspace Design Show 2024, held at the Business Design Centre from February 27th to 28th, yet again gathered widespread acclaim.

Now a firmly established part of the global workplace event calendar, Workspace Design Show made a triumphant return to London at the end of February with a record number of visitors, breathtaking features and an events programme across the two days that really packed a punch.

Over 4,500 workplace professionals from over 40 countries around the world congregated at the Business Design Centre between 27-28 February, taking in the latest trends in office specification from furniture, lighting, flooring and more, totalling over 500 different products.

Given the exceptional lineup of speakers, it came as no surprise that the talks were immensely popular. The beautiful stage, designed by Gensler, was packed out from start to finish, buzzing with architects, designers and workplace professionals, eager to hear from industry leaders.

Day one in the Workspace Design Talks kicked off with an insightful talk on ‘Insights and perspectives on the convergent future of workplace’ with panellists Yasmin Al-Ani Spence, Director, WilkinsonEyre, Ewan Jones, Partner, Grimshaw and Nicola Gillen, Head of Total Workplace EMEA, Cushman & Wakefield. Other key workplace leaders sharing their insights on workplace strategy, design & culture across the two days were Helen Berresford, Head of ID:SR Sheppard Robson, Alan Bainbridge, Director of Workplace BBC, Sarah-Jane Osbourne, Head of Workplace UK and Europe, Avison Young, Linzi Cassels, Principal Design Director, Perkins&Will, Laurie Goodman, Strategy Director, IA Interior Architects, Neil Usher, VP Places, Sage, Naomi Sakamoto, Principal Studio Director, Gensler, Mary-Louise Gray, VP Workplace, Real Estate & Facilities, GSK.

Sustainability Works, curated by Mick Jordan, Editor of Works magazine, returned for 2024 and did not disappoint. Once again, the talks brought together a selection of key figures from firms such as Perkins&Will, Scott Brownrigg, BDG architecture and design, M Moser Associates, BDP and Resonate Interiors who are behind the workplace market’s leading sustainable initiatives and projects.

Pernille Bonser, CEO of Resonate Interiors said, "Workspace Design Show is not only the perfect place for discovering new products, but also brings designers and architects together. It’s about meeting and connecting with friends in the same community, these shared conversations are so important "

The Occupiers Forum, provided unique insights from occupiers such as BT Group, HSBC, Clifford Chance, Booking.com, Visa, Salesforce, HMRC, and Barclays into what employers are doing to create an engaging workplace experience. The FIS Conference explored productivity, quality, compliance and sustainability issues in the fit-out sector.

Mario Vieira, Scott Brownrigg, Head of Sustainability, commented, “The Workspace Design Show showcases all the upcoming innovative products and trends. In my role and practice, I aim to assist our teams by giving advice, this show allow us to gauge a much stronger understanding of the market, making that a lot easier.”

2024 had a vast array of spectacular features, inspired by the overarching show theme ‘Bloom – Exploring the Thriving Ecosystem of Work Life’. Captivating stages included the Design Talks Lounge by Gensler and the Insights Lounge by BDP, and other features included the immersive Entrance by tp bennett, a Living Workplace lighting installation by Jason Bruges Studio, the Mood Board Contest by MF Design Studio, and the calming Recharge Lounge by M Moser Associates. The show’s stunning exhibition floor hosted exhibitors from over 20 countries, and it was wonderful to see some of the stunning stand designs showcasing the products. The best stand design competition was won by Spain’s Kettal and the UK’s AllSfär, judged by a panel of leading specifiers.

As day one came to a close, the Workspace Design Show party commenced. The buzzing atmosphere allowed people to socialise and network over a glass of wine, transforming the venue into a vibrant hub of creativity and connection.

Esha & Charlie Bark-Jones, Workspace Design Show founders, said “We’re absolutely thrilled that so many of the UK’s workplace interiors community came together to experience the fantastic speakers sharing their insights, transformative products from our exhibitors and stunning features experiences from our partners. We are delighted to see specifiers from Asia, The Americas, The Middle East, Africa and Europe also attending to join the celebration of the future of work in London. The spirit of collaboration at the Show was evident for all to see, as people formed partnerships to transform the employee experience in these disruptive times for workplaces.”

The next UK edition will be on 26th – 27th February 2025. The Amsterdam edition of Workspace Design Show takes place on 5th – 6th November 2025.