Nine projects shortlisted for architecture awards

27 February 2025

Charlotte BentonBBC News, West Midlands

News image — Invisible House in Warwickshire is among the nine buildings shortlisted

Henry Woide A building that looks like a large black television screen with steps leading up to it. Trees and yellow lights surround the house. — Invisible House in Warwickshire is among the nine buildings shortlisted

A net-zero carbon nursery and a disused fire station that has been transformed into homes are among projects shortlisted for regional architectural awards.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) unveiled nine projects that have been nominated across the West Midlands and said it was "heartwarming" to see the "imaginative reuse" of buildings across the region.

Tim Collett, chair of the West Midlands RIBA jury who will visit each of the projects, said they would be looking for buildings that "enhance people's lives and demonstrate care and attention to detail".

The winning projects will be announced in the spring.

Mr Collett added: "This year's shortlist includes exciting buildings that offer a wonderful range of typologies and scales, from large academic and commercial buildings to homes, a nursery and a pavilion."

The nine projects shortlisted are:

University of Staffordshire Woodlands Nursery by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

Daniel Hopkinson A garden with a bark path and wooden planters, with a wooden triangular building in the background. There are also trees in the background and small plants in the garden. — The nursery was the first carbon neutral building on the university's campus

Coventry University, College of Arts & Society by BDP

Nick Caville This is an image of a large open plan space filled with people. There is a large white screen hanging from the wall above. There are people sitting around tables on a mezzanine level to the right and a black railing above the ground floor to the left. — The redevelopment of The College of Arts & Society at the university was opened in 2023

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Medical Teaching Building by Glancy Nicholls Architects, Worcestershire

Verity Milligan A yellow building with a glass entrance on the right. The building has a triangular feature that runs along the top of the roof. The sky is blue in the background. — The University of Worcester's medical teaching facility is located on Hylton Road

Hanbury Hall by Howells, Worcestershire

Greg Holmes A courtyard with black tables and chairs as well as wooden and red brick building on the left. There are trees in the background. — The Grade-I listed National Trust property has been shortlisted for its new pavillion

Invisible House by BPN Architects, Warwickshire

Henry Woide A building that is made from a mirrored material. Part of the one-storey building sits on a patch of grass and another part is elevated over a small pond. The house is surrounded by trees. — The mirrored one-storey house is located in Moreton Paddox near to Leamington Spa

Manresa House by OMI Architects, Birmingham

Paul Karalius A red brick building with white windows and grey slanted roof which is surrounded by green space and large trees. — The house in Harborne is a renovated Victorian villa

Old Fire Station by KKE Architects Ltd, Worcestershire

KKE Architects Ltd A red and cream brick fire station that has been transformed into homes with white long windows. The building is on a street corner and a church can be seen in the background as well as cars parked on the street. — The former fire station has been transformed into 28 luxury apartments

One Centenary Way by Howells, Birmingham

Hufton+Crow A grey rectangular, high-rise building in the distance, with a small, cream circular building in front. People are walking around the open space in front of the buildings. — The office building is located in the heart of the city

Williamson House by John Pardey Architects, Warwickshire

Richard Chivers A modern white house that is one brick stilts, with a pool at the front. The pool is surrounded by plants and flowers and there are blue sun loungers in front of the house. — The modern house is on stilts and is located close to the River Leam

The winners of the regional award will then be considered for several RIBA Special Awards, including the Sustainability Award and Building of the Year Award, before being considered for the institute's National Award, which will be announced in summer.

The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize – the UK's best new building – will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning projects and announced in September, with the winner announced in October.

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