RIBA Regional Awards 2017

Cass tutors, Fergus Fielden and Edmund Fowles from Studio 11 and Peter St John from Unit 12, have been recognised in this year's RIBA Regional Awards.

Feilden Fowles, an architecture practice established by Cass Studio 11 tutors Fergus Fielden and Edmund Fowles and Caruso St John Architects, which was co-founded by Peter St John, Visiting Professor at The Cass and leader of Unit 12 in the Professional Diploma in Architecture (RIBA2) have both been announced as winners in the 2017 RIBA Regional Awards.

Regional Award winners will now be considered for a highly-coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence, the results of which will be announced in June.

The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning buildings later in the year. 

RIBA London Awards

Feilden Fowles have been awarded a 2017 RIBA London Regional Award for Feilden Fowles Studio, their self-initiated and self-funded architecture studio, located at Waterloo City Farm.

The RIBA said: “The jury was delighted to visit this beautifully conceived, contemplative building for Feilden Fowles’ own offices on a ‘meantime’ site, developed in collaboration with an urban farm.

The simple timber frame structure, with manually operated cross-ventilation vents, is an elegant and economical solution to the site and the execution is almost faultless. The jury particularly loved the relationship to the Dan Pearson landscape and the farm and it was clear that it provided a very happy space for the staff of Feilden Fowles Architects.”

Feilden Fowles Studio is built on a formerly overgrown plot of land, which was offered to Feilden Fowles by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in exchange for masterplanning the whole site, including animal pens and an outdoor classroom. 

The jury also commended the procurement of the land for studio space as an innovative and opportunistic bartering structure that compliments the business plan of an SME, where many are struggling to make ends meet with high rents in London.

RIBA North West Awards

Caruso St John Architects won a RIBA North West Award 2017 for ​their work on the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

Caruso St John were appointed architects for the refurbishment and extension of Liverpool Philharmonic Hall in 2012. The grade II* listed building was built in 1939 and was designed by leading Liverpool architect Herbert Rowse in an Art Deco manner, strongly influenced by the contemporary work of Dutch architect WM Dudok.

Commenting on the selection the judges said: “This Grade II* auditorium building designed by Herbert Rowse and opened in 1939 has undergone a thoughtful, sensitive and welcome restoration.

“It is indeed an exemplary restoration in which the detail has all be carefully researched and beautifully crafted. It also resolves the building’s deficiencies in a manner that you feel Rowse would have enthusiastically approved. Though the extension is prosaic, it provides all the necessary additional accommodation in a useful and easily managed new building.”

Image: Feilden Fowles Studio by Kendal Nocter