The restoration of a grade II* listed Church (Sheerness Dockyard Church), a new arts and performance destination (Brighton Dome Corn Exchange & Studio Theatre) and a low-carbon, modern home in the South Downs (Bury Gate Farm) are among the winners of the RIBA South East Awards 2025.
Presented since 1966, the RIBA Awards set the standard for great architecture across the country.
The Awards were announced at a ceremony this evening (14 May), at which Sheerness Dockyard Church was named as winner of the RIBA South East Building of the Year Award 2025 (sponsored by EH Smith). The jury praised how the project was “exquisitely restored and transformed into a community facility” and shows that “imagination and skills to do more than just validate their client’s belief that a historic building in an extreme state of decay can have a very good future.”
The 8 RIBA South East Awards 2025 winning projects are:
Brighton Dome Corn Exchange & Studio Theatre by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (Client of the Year, sponsored by Equitone)
Two listed venues sensitively restored and redeveloped into an arts and performance destination in Brighton.
Sheerness Dockyard Church by Hugh Broughton Architects (Building of the Year sponsored by EH Smith, Conservation Award sponsored by Velux, Project Architect of the Year – Robert Songhurst)
A fire-damaged Grade-II* listed church has been exquisitely restored and transformed into a community facility.
Triangle House by Artefact (Small Project of the Year)
A playful and inventive extension to a 1950’s suburban home in Surrey.
Knepp Wilding Kitchen and Shop by Kaner Olette Architects
A set of decaying farmyard buildings have been regenerated into a kitchen and shop in Knepp within a 3,500 acre rewilding project.
Sea, Sky House by Liddicoat & Goldhill
A sustainable coastal home makes the most of salvaged materials and prioritises long-term living.
Bury Gate Farm by Sandy Rendel Architects
A highly accessible, low-carbon modern home that blends seamlessly into the surrounding South Downs.
Hastings House by Hugh Strange Architects
An inventive transformation of late 19th century house into a finely detailed, eccentric home.
The Spencer Building by Tim Ronalds Architects
A new, low-carbon timber school building that cleverly maximises internal space and daylight.
The 8 projects were selected by the expert jury, who visited all shortlisted projects.
RIBA South East of England Jury Chair Lisa Shell, director of Lisa Shell Architects, said:
“Of this year’s winning projects in England’s south-east, the majority involve the inventive re-use and conservation of existing structures, representing a heartening direction in sustainable development within a region typically celebrated for new houses. The jury were shown how the architects’ imagination can transform existing houses into homes of unique and enduring character or magic a much-needed community asset from the ruins of a burned-out church. The winning one-off houses continue to demonstrate the architects’ ingenuity in the handling of structure and materials and high levels of skill in response to extraordinary contexts.”
Speaking on all the UK Award winners, RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki, said:
“This year’s winners exemplify architecture’s power to transform—turning spaces into places of connection, creativity, and care. Spanning the length of the UK and diverse in form and function, our 2025 winners show a deep sensitivity to place and a strong coherence of thought between all teams involved. Individually these projects inspire and uplift, but collectively, they remind us that architects do far more than design buildings, they shape the way we live, work and connect.”
RIBA South East Award winners will now be considered for a highly coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence, which will be announced on 10 July. The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning projects later in the year.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- For further press information please contact Max.Heptonstall@riba.org
- High resolution images and jury citations: RIBA South East
- RIBA Special Awards are sponsored by EH Smith (Building of the Year), Autodesk (Sustainability Award), Equitone (Client of the Year) and Velux (Conservation).
- The RIBA Awards have been running since 1966 and are judged and presented locally. No matter the shape, size, budget or location, RIBA Award winning schemes set the standard for great architecture all across the country. RIBA Awards are for buildings in the UK by RIBA Chartered Architects and RIBA International Fellows.
- Entries are submitted to the region or nation in which the building is situated. Projects are judged first for RIBA Regional Awards, then RIBA National Awards; the RIBA Stirling Prize shortlist is selected from winners of the RIBA National Awards.
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates.
