Goldsmith Street wins RIBA Stirling Prize.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize Awards took place on Tuesday 8th October at London’s iconic Roundhouse to celebrate the very best of new British architecture.
The Social Housing Project of 105 high energy-efficient homes in Goldsmith Street Norwich, designed by Mikhail Riches to Passivhaus standards for Norwich City Council has won the UK’s highest architectural accolade for the best new building 2019.
On 18th July 2019, six projects were shortlisted for this coveted award. The projects were judged against a range of criteria including design vision, innovation, originality, accessibility and sustainability, the capacity to stimulate, engage and delight occupants and visitors, how fit the building is for its purpose and the level of client satisfaction.
The city of Norwich held an international RIBA Competition 12 years ago, to select architects and the right scheme for the site, which architects Mikhail Riches won. The journey has not been easy with the recession and economic downturn these proved to be challenging times, however, the team remained focused on keeping their aim of creating a highly sustainable community.
Each dwelling has its own front door, with enough lobby space for prams and bikes, and a private balcony. The back gardens of the central terraces share a secure ‘ginnel’ – a regional word for alleyway – for children to play together, and a wide landscaped walkway for communal gatherings runs through the middle of the estate.
Although the layout has a traceable link with the English housing tradition, the rest of the project is very modern in its conception. Crest Nelskamp black gloss clay pantiles, mitred as they go from a roof covering to a wall covering, perforated metal brise soleil, and the new detailing associated with energy conscious design are wholly contemporary. The brick is also contemporary, a mix of the two brick types Crest’s Belgravia Buff Multi and Grosvenor Multi, now called the Crest Goldsmith Blend created a bespoke and unique blend, with characteristic intentional white efflorescence colouration, set in a mews or small terrace layout. To be certified Passivhaus, the windows had to be smaller than the proportion in a Georgian or Victorian terrace, so the architects have used a set-back panel around the windows to give an enlarged feel, and panels of textured brick have been introduced into the main elevations, again to balance the feel of the fenestration along the terrace. Bringing the reduced energy consumption associated with Passivhaus to mass housing is a great achievement and one that has taken a large amount of effort and care by the architects. Overall judges described Goldsmith Street as an “exemplary project”.
Arnold van Huet managing director of Crest would like to congratulate Mikhail Riches on winning this prestigious award. The Crest team were delighted to provide expert advice on this innovative project. The partnership created high quality facing bricks and a bespoke roofing system that flows without interruption continuously from eave to ridge, for the mix of 45 houses and 60 flats on this exciting development.
The project has picked up many other awards which include:
- RIBA Neave Brown for Housing Shortlist 2019
- Housing Design Awards – Overall Winner 2019
- Housing Design Awards – Good Neighbour Award 2019
- RIBA Stirling Prize Midlist 2019
- RIBA National Award 2019
- RIBA East Award 2019
- RIBA East – Sustainability Award 2019
- Housing Design Award (Project) 2016
- RIBA Regional Award 2019
To find out how Crest can help you transform your project into something exceptional or for more information on our building products contact us on 01430 432667. To order FREE samples please email: wille(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)crest-bst.co.uk