CLIENT OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST
DYSON: THE DYSON IET WilkinsonEyre has completed a new undergraduate village for the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET). The landscaped village of timber modular housing pods, with communal amenities and a central social and learning hub, is based within the Dyson Malmesbury Campus in Wiltshire. As well as establishing a new typology in student accommodation, the project makes innovative use of cross laminated timber as a structural component with an internal self-finish highly suitable for natural and welcoming interior spaces.
MAGGIE’S: MAGGIE’S, LEEDS Set in the midst of medical buildings, the site was one of few green spaces left on the campus. The studio decided to preserve and accentuate this space by creating the structure out of the garden itself. The centre is expressed as a grouping of largescale planters of varying sizes. The base of each planter encloses a distinct private counselling room for visitors to meet or spend time by themselves, while the areas between offer relaxed and approachable social spaces for group conversation and activities.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (RHS): RHS GARDEN BRIDGEWATER RHS Garden Bridgewater is the largest gardening project in Europe and will be a major new tourism and horticultural destination. This entry relates specifically to the ‘Welcome Building’ at RHS Garden Bridgewater, where Hodder + Partners were invited to design a new world-class visitor centre providing a gateway to the gardens as well as a visitor meeting and interaction point, restaurant, gift shop, offices and educational spaces. The ‘Welcome Building’ has been delivered by BAM as the main contractor.
THE OFFICE GROUP: YORK HOUSE The client asked their architects to transform and extend the existing somber 1980s block into a modern, light filled co-working space with state of the art facilities. dMFK Architects’ ingenious solution was to extend the anonymous block, not only upwards - but outwards, towards the street. An extra storey has been added on the roof; and a section of the front façade has been punched out to connect to a new 5 storey element that protrudes eight metres into the generous forecourt of the building, reaching out to the pavement.
VALLEYS KIDS: LITTLE BRYN GWYN PROJECT The Valleys Kids Little Bryn Gwyn Project is a brand-new residential centre. It will accommodate groups of all ages and enable them to experience life changing activities in a national park, an opportunity otherwise denied by their situation. The new building’s structure is timber, some of which designed to be built by the very people who will use the building, a way to provide skills and increase self-esteem. The building is designed to create an organic and sympathetic backdrop and is intended to be accessible, welcoming, non-institutional and timeless.
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