Winner announced: Priory Park Pavilion Competition, Reigate

Date:

21 July 2005

Press release contact:

RIBA Competitions Office
T: +44 (0)113 234 1335
E: riba.competitions@riba.org

Dominique Perrault Architecture has won the competition to design a new pavilion building in Priory Park (Reigate), which forms part of a wider initiative to restore the historic landscape of the park.

The first phase of the competition attracted forty-five Expressions of Interest from architectural practices across the UK, Europe, South Africa and the Lebanon. Dominique Perrault's design proposal was chosen from a shortlist that included: Block Architecture Ltd; Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams and Knox Bhavan Architects LLP.

The scheme was chosen by a Jury Panel that consisted of representatives from English Heritage; Reigate & Banstead Borough Council (Ward Members, Executive Members and Senior Management); the Reigate Society; Surrey County Council and Cindy Walters (Walters & Cohen) acting as the RIBA Architect Adviser. Dominique Perrault's proposal was also very well received by the public when the schemes were exhibited anonymously in Reigate. The team will go on to develop detailed designs for the building, which will be included as part of the Stage 2 Heritage Lottery Fund submission later this year. On hearing that they had won the competition, Dominique Perrault commented: 'Although unexpected, the news of winning the competition was pleasant and very emotional. For us, it is a delicate and poetic way to start building in the UK. We are delighted.'

Members of the Jury Panel commented thus about the Dominique Perrault scheme:
'The panel was impressed by the passion each team clearly had for the project and the very different ways in which they had responded to the design brief. The winning design was the clear favourite amongst the Jury Panel and our residents. I hope our Stage 2 HLF bid is as equally well received.'
Rob Ellingham (Executive Member for Leisure & Community Development, R&BBC).

'We had a very difficult decision to make as the standard of the design proposals was extremely high. The scheme submitted by Dominique Perrault Architecture was well resolved and a creative and dynamic response to the brief, the site and the budget. The proposal made a strong statement regarding environmental sustainability that the Council looks forward to exploring further. The enthusiasm, sensitivity and commitment demonstrated by the DPA team during the final interview, meant that the scheme was selected by a clear majority vote.'
Cindy Walters (RIBA Adviser)

Notes to editors

- Please ensure that the RIBA is credited when mentioning the above competition. The RIBA Competitions Office organises bespoke architectural competitions that encourage excellence in design, offer value for money, and are run smoothly from inception through to the appointment of a winning design or architect/team. The Competitions Office has vast experience of managing competitions for a diverse range of clients, project types and budgets. The competition process has produced landmark buildings/structures such as BALTIC and The Sage Gateshead, the Millennium Bridge etc. For further information visit www.ribacompetitions.com|

- The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded a Stage One Pass to Reigate & Banstead Borough Council to conserve and enhance Priory Park, which will incorporate the restoration of the historic landscape and will maximise public enjoyment of the park. The Stage One Pass has seen just under £4.2 million earmarked by the HLF for the Priory Park project, as well as a development grant of £306,500 to help fund the work needed to develop the Stage Two application, which if successful, will confirm HLF contribution.

The Borough Council will hear whether its Stage Two bid has been successful in the Spring of 2006. However, visitors to the park can expect to see things happening before then. In order to compile the Stage Two bid additional research has to be undertaken. This will include archaeological, hydrological, topographical and wildlife surveys, together with further consultation with local groups. There are plans to set up a 'Friends of Priory Park' group and a youth forum. Prior approval will be sought for all of this work from the Heritage Lottery Fund and, as appropriate, statutory and advisory bodies including English Heritage and the Surrey Wildlife Trust.

Reigate Priory is a Grade I listed building, which contains the Reigate Priory County Junior School and a museum, and is leased to the County Council from the Borough Council. The building contains a late 17th/early 18th Century Verrio mural and is scheduled as an ancient monument. In the region of £165,000 has been made available to commission work to the mural, which will be paid for by the County Council and other contributions including £17,000 raised by a former Borough Mayor, Eddie Waller. In addition, around £900,000 will be made available by the County Council over the next five years to repair and maintain the building in line with a Conservation Plan drawn up in conjunction with the School, the Borough Council and English Heritage.