This year’s conserving category is to do with the restoration and reuse of buildings across any sector, concentrating on the efficient use of existing fabric and embodied energy and ranges from historic restorations to contemporary insertions and retrofit. 

Trends and challenges here concerned climate change, with this sector particularly moving away from ‘energy-greedy buildings’ often employing natural ventilation and LEDs, sustainable drainage, CHPs and ground source heat pumps. Carbon zero issues are a box ticked here in longevity of resource and long-life, loose fit and circular economy, while the use of wireless technology has allowed some buildings a greater opportunity for re-use and accessibility another consideration finding better solutions along with an increased use of cycling parking and storage. 

Finally, placemaking was another key issue improved by the retention of an older building in providing continuity, stability and, importantly, identity to an area. Conservation should have a contemporary, forward-looking dimension too.

Dominique Alba: ‘It’s very interesting because it is a huge project that is very symbolic for London. The way they treated the spaces to give more sense to this building and find the old routes is very interesting and may help the people to feel well inside because they are much more connected to history’. 

Benjamin Prosky: ‘I have an affection for trying to find new uses for these old theatres; this had some merit’

Fairfield Halls, Croydon by MICA
York House, Islington by dMFK Architects

The restoration and reuse of buildings, across any sector, where efficient use is made of existing fabric and embodied energy: from historic restorations to contemporary insertions and retrofit buildings.

1 Finsbury Avenue, City of London by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

21 Soho Square, Westminster by Buckley Gray Yeoman

47-69 Notting Hill Gate, Kensington and Chelsea by Squire & Partners

Bracken House, City of London by John Robertson Architects

Dept W, Tower Hamlets by Buckley Gray Yeoman

EMD Walthamstow, Waltham Forest by Pilbrow & Partners

Fairfield Halls, Croydon by MICA

Lincoln's Inn Great Hall and Library, Camden by MICA

Newson's Yard, Westminster, by Stiff + Trevillion Architects

Qingliang Buddhist Centre, Southwark by Knox Bhavan Architects

St Mark's, Westminster by Donald Insall Associates

The Farmiloe, Islington by AWW

The Gaslight, Westminster by dMFK and Bureau de Change Architects

The Wallace Collection, Westminster by Purcell

York House, Islington by dMFK Architects

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Westminster by Purcell