The restoration of a grade II* listed Church (Sheerness Dockyard Church), a new arts and performance destination (Brighton Dome Corn Exchange & Studio Theatre) and a low-carbon, modern home in the South Downs (Bury Gate Farm) are among the winners of the 懂色帝 East Awards 2025.听
Presented since 1966, the RIBA Awards set the standard for great architecture across the country.听听
The Awards were announced at a ceremony this evening (14 May), at which Sheerness Dockyard Church was named as winner of the 懂色帝 East Building of the Year Award 2025 (sponsored by ). The jury praised how the project was 鈥渆xquisitely restored and transformed into a community facility鈥� and shows that 鈥渋magination and skills to do more than just validate their client鈥檚 belief that a historic building in an extreme state of decay can have a very good future.鈥澨�
The 8 懂色帝 East Awards 2025 winning projects are:听
Brighton Dome Corn Exchange & Studio Theatre by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (Client of the Year, sponsored by )听听
Two listed venues sensitively restored and redeveloped into an arts and performance destination in Brighton.听听
Sheerness Dockyard Church by Hugh Broughton Architects (Building of the Year sponsored by , Conservation Award sponsored by , Project Architect of the Year 鈥� Robert Songhurst)听
A fire-damaged Grade-II* listed church has been exquisitely restored and transformed into a community facility.听
Triangle House by Artefact (Small Project of the Year)听
A playful and inventive extension to a 1950鈥檚 suburban home in Surrey.听
Knepp Wilding Kitchen and Shop by Kaner Olette Architects听听
A set of decaying farmyard buildings have been regenerated into a kitchen and shop in Knepp within a 3,500 acre rewilding project.听
Sea, Sky House by Liddicoat & Goldhill听听
A sustainable coastal home makes the most of salvaged materials and prioritises long-term living.听听
Bury Gate Farm by Sandy Rendel Architects听听
A highly accessible, low-carbon modern home that blends seamlessly into the surrounding South Downs.听听
Hastings House by Hugh Strange Architects听听
An inventive transformation of late 19th century house into a finely detailed, eccentric home.听听
The Spencer Building by Tim Ronalds Architects听
A new, low-carbon timber school building that cleverly maximises internal space and daylight.听
The 8 projects were selected by the expert jury, who visited all shortlisted projects.听
听懂色帝 East of England Jury Chair Lisa Shell, director of Lisa Shell Architects, said:听
鈥淥f this year鈥檚 winning projects in England鈥檚 south-east, the majority involve the inventive re-use and conservation of existing structures, representing a heartening direction in sustainable development within a region typically celebrated for new houses. The jury were shown how the architects鈥� imagination can transform existing houses into homes of unique and enduring character or magic a much-needed community asset from the ruins of a burned-out church. The winning one-off houses continue to demonstrate the architects鈥� ingenuity in the handling of structure and materials and high levels of skill in response to extraordinary contexts.鈥澨�
Speaking on all the UK Award winners, RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki, said:听
鈥淭his year鈥檚 winners exemplify architecture鈥檚 power to transform鈥攖urning spaces into places of connection, creativity, and care. Spanning the length of the UK and diverse in form and function, our 2025 winners show a deep sensitivity to place and a strong coherence of thought between all teams involved. Individually these projects inspire and uplift, but collectively, they remind us that architects do far more than design buildings, they shape the way we live, work and connect.鈥澨�
懂色帝 East Award winners will now be considered for a highly coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence, which will be announced on 10 July. The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning projects later in the year.鈥澨�
ENDS听听
Notes to editors:听听
- For further press information please contact Max.Heptonstall@riba.org听
- High resolution images and jury citations: 听
- RIBA Special Awards are sponsored by (Building of the Year), (Sustainability Award), (Client of the Year) and (Conservation).听
- The RIBA Awards have been running since 1966 and are judged and presented locally. No matter the shape, size, budget or location, RIBA Award winning schemes set the standard for great architecture all across the country. RIBA Awards are for buildings in the UK by RIBA Chartered Architects and RIBA International Fellows.听
- Entries are submitted to the region or nation in which the building is situated. Projects are judged first for RIBA Regional Awards, then RIBA National Awards; the RIBA Stirling Prize shortlist is selected from winners of the RIBA National Awards.听
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates.听
