The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) recently disclosed the shortlist for the second edition of the Reinvention Award 2024. The award celebrates achievement in the creative reuse of buildings to improve their environmental, social, and economic sustainability. It aims to highlight the significance of retrofitting as a means to increase the longevity and energy efficiency of existing buildings without needing to demolish structures and build anew.
This year’s shortlist recognizes four projects from across the United Kingdom, which includes the transformations of a ruined rural croft, a former Brutalist social housing scheme, an old flaxmill turned maltings, that is regarded as the world’s first iron-frame building, and an outdated office and retail building. In addition to the Reinvention Award, these projects have also previously been acknowledged in the RIBA National Awards, the RIBA Stirling Prize, the RIBA London Awards, and the RIAS Awards.
โThe importance of retrofitting and adaptive re-use cannot be overstated,” said Muyiwa Oki, President, RIBA. “Not least because most buildings that we will inhabit in the future have already been built. As architects, we are faced with the task of creatively responding to this issue, while balancing the needs of the local community and environment. The four shortlisted projects for this yearโs Reinvention Award are all inspiring examples of how this can be achieved, with each carefully considering the context of their area, community and environmental needs. Diverse in their approach to reuse, these projects now set a benchmark for future retrofit endeavors,โ he added.
Source: archinect.com
