Gwent buildings up for top awards (From South Wales Argus)

Gwent buildings up for top awards

5:10pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in Gwent news

BUILDINGS in Gwent have been shortlisted for the 2013 Welsh Architecture Award, by the Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

The Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone in Ebbw Vale and the New Day Hospice for St David’s Foundation in Newport are on the list.

The RIBA Welsh Architecture Awards recognise good, innovative architecture.

A RIBA spokeswoman said the judges were particularly impressed by the quality of submissions.

Judges welcomed schemes like the Learning Zone and Hospice which have a strong community focus and a clear role in supporting the development of sustainable neighbourhoods.

The Learning Zone was created by architecture firm BDP, a major international company. St David’s Hospice was built byKKEArchitects, an architecture and landscape design company specialising in healthcare design – especially hospices.

Dan Benham, one of the judges and vice-president of theRSAW, said: “It is fantastic to see the diversity and consistent high quality of shortlisted projects this year.

“This is testament to clients desiring and commissioning architectural spaces and solutions that change people’s lives and improve our public realm for the future. The architects have successfully blended creativity and passion, resulting in buildings Wales can be proud of.”

“We hope that the general public, and those commissioning projects, will draw on these brilliant and varied approaches to design to help deliver a better built environment for all.”

The shortlisted buildings will be visited by judges and the winners will be announced on June 12.

Winners will also be considered for a highly-coveted RIBA National Award.

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

The 2013 RIBA Stirling Prize will be announced on September 26, in London.