The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the shortlist for the Reinvention Award 2025.
The annual award, sponsored by , recognises achievement in the creative reuse of buildings to improve their environmental, social, or economic sustainability. It aims to shine a light on 鈥渞etrofitting鈥�, increasing the longevity and energy efficiency of existing buildings, and reducing the need for demolition and new construction.
This year鈥檚 shortlist acknowledges four projects that, all while navigating difficult sites, incorporate sensitive restorations and innovative material use to transform the communities around them.
The four shortlisted projects are:
- Knepp Wilding Kitchen and shop by : Based within the UK鈥檚 first rewilding project in West Sussex, a collection of decaying farmyard buildings have been rejuvenated into sustainable, multi-function series of spaces including a caf茅/restaurant and farm shop.
- Rhodes House Transformation by : A modern refurbishment and extension of a 100-year-old Grade II* listed Arts and Craft building. The project doubles its usable space while significantly improving its layout and environmental performance. This has been achieved through sensitive, below ground interventions to the main building.
- Sheerness Dockyard Church by : A Grade II* listed 19th century former church previously on Historic England鈥檚 鈥楬eritage At Risk鈥� register due to fire damage. Local skills and labour were key in the exquisite restoration into a community facility, hosting a co-working space, caf茅, public exhibition areas, and an events space.
- The Entopia Building by : A former 1930s telephone exchange within a conservation area in Cambridge has been sensitively adapted into a vibrant, highly sustainable office building meeting Passivhaus standards.
Jury Chair and Managing Director, Marks Barfield Architects, Julia Barfield, said:
鈥淔aced with excellent, diverse entries across sectors, scale, and complexity, the jury had a challenging task. We were looking for exceptional reinvention; regenerative, transformational in form and function, while contributing to society and biodiversity. Four projects rose to the top, including the adaptation of a former 1930s telephone exchange into a sustainable office building in Cambridge, a social and fabric transformation of a derelict church in Kent, a barn transformation in Sussex, and the refurbishment of a Grade II* listed Arts and Craft building in Oxford.
It is testament to the welcome speed of change in the industry that 51% of RIBA UK award winners are for refurbishment or conservation and that the reinvention awards are to such high quality.鈥�
The Reinvention Award shortlist is selected from winners of the RIBA Regional Awards 2025. The winner will be announced at the Stirling Prize ceremony on 16 October 2025.
The Reinvention Award 2025 jury comprised: Julia Barfield, Managing Director, Marks Barfield Architects, Chair, Stephanie Crombie, Supernatural Studio, Sustainability Advisor, Leanne Tritton Hon. FRIBA, Don鈥檛 Waste Buildings, Lay assessor, Edward Farleigh-Dastmalchi, fardaa, Reinvention Winner, 2024
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Media contact: jenny.webber@riba.org
- The RIBA Reinvention Award recognises achievement in the creative reuse of existing buildings through transformative projects. The award recognises buildings that have been creatively reused to improve their environmental, social, or economic sustainability鈥� increasing the longevity and energy efficiency of existing buildings and reducing the need for demolition and new construction.
- Eligible projects reused an existing building or structure, supplied carbon and operational energy where applicable, and demonstrated how the project had improved the building or structure by achieving one or more of the sustainable outcomes in RIBA鈥檚 Sustainable Outcomes Guide.
- The RIBA Awards have been running since 1966. 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 to be submitted to the region or nation in which the building is situated.
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow for regular updates.
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