This category is all about projects that – in normal times – put cultural experience at the heart of communities to create better places for local residents and international visitors alike, the shortlist revealing a huge range of projects from football stadia to skate parks, concert halls to community centres.

Clearly, however, the COVID period has affected culture in a major way, but there was a real intent in the shortlist to create useful buildings that have at their heart an intent to welcome in the whole community, are capable of hosting a large range of diverse activity and show an admirable flexibility of use that is a needs-must for today’s climate. Assessors were also pleased to see a rebirth in civic pride where it has lacked in previous years, shown by investment in local areas, and, as one juror put it, ‘putting citizens back in civic buildings’

There is still time to cast your People’s Choice vote! Support your favourite project by voting here by November 6th.

Battersea Arts Centre
Dominique Alba: ‘The architect is so clever; when you look at those people in the stairs with the corporates – it’s incredible’
Benjamin Prosky: ‘Battersea Arts Centre; I think it’s just an extraordinary thing that happened. There are such clever references to the old, the reparation, there’s interpretation, the historical references are done in a contemporary way that leads you to understand craft. So, I think it’s great’
Andreas Ruby: ‘It shows that it makes sense to invest in neighbourhoods and you will see what kind of difference it makes. It’s amazing and so rewarding. It’s a little bit of a Palais de Tokyo type of project for London and I like it a lot on that account.
Monica von Schmalensee: ‘There’s so much content in the building’

Plumstead Library, Greenwich by Hawkins\Brown

Category sponsored by BOP Consulting
Civic buildings, museums, galleries, theatres, libraries, sports facilities, community hubs and youth centres – projects that put cultural experience at the heart to create better places for local residents and international visitors.

Battersea Arts Centre, Wandsworth by Haworth Tompkins

EMD Walthamstow, Waltham Forest by Pilbrow and Partners

English National Ballet, Tower Hamlets by Glenn Howells Architects

Fairfield Halls, Croydon by MICA

Livesey Exchange, Southwark by what if: projects ltd

Plumstead Library, Greenwich by Hawkins\Brown

Southbank Undercroft Skate Space, Lambeth by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

Surrey Docks Farm, Southwark by Pup Architects

The New Purley Mosque, Croydon by Benedict O'Looney Architects

The Yellow, Brent by Flanagan Lawrence

Wellfit+Hardess, Loughborough Junction, Lambeth by Metaphorm Architects