A dozen Norfolk projects were announced as winners of the Design and Craftsmanship Awards 2025 in a ceremony at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts on Thursday (November 13).
The awards were given to projects which have a high standard of design and craftsmanship, that meet the needs of their users and contribute to public enjoyment of places, and take account of the wider environmental implications, including minimising impact on climate change.
Winners were:
DESIGNED LANDSCAPES AWARD
Hay Hill: The reimagining of the city centre space to create “a vibrant, green and accessible oasis”, designed by Norwich City Council’s landscape design team and Ingleton Wood. The project sparked controversy due to delays in its construction.
SIR BERNARD FEILDEN AWARD FOR CONSERVATION
Norwich Castle: The Norwich Castle Keep: Gateway to Medieval England project, has seen the transformation of the Grade I-listed building to reflect how it looked in Norman times. The multi-million-pound project was led by architects Feilden+Mawson.
NON-RESIDENTIAL AWARD
Priscilla Bacon Lodge in Norwich: A £13.5m charity-funded state-of-the-art hospice providing 24 inpatient beds and day care facilities, designed by LSI Architects.
Hethersett Academy: A new secondary school block, designed by NPS Property Services to complement the existing architecture.
HOUSES AND HOUSING AWARD
There were so many nominations for this category that judges split it into two – a new build category and an extension/refurbishment category.
Burnham Rise in King’s Lynn won the new build award. Designed by Cowper Griffth Architects, it was described as a “distinctive contemporary dwelling rooted in Norfolk’s vernacular”.
There were two winners in the extension and refurbishment category:
Mecklenberg House in Dersingham, where Liv Architects were behind a “sensitive and detailed extension to a historic home” using “crafted materials” and a “thoughtful, contextual design”.
The other winner was Coastal Cottage in Cley, designed by Hudson Architects. A pair of traditional flint cottages were joined to create “a spacious single dwelling”. The project also won a sustainability award.
CONSERVATION AWARD
Church Farm, Wiveton: An extensive farmhouse renovation, “sensitively preserving historic features while updating for modern living and sustainability”, designed by Wray-McCann Architect Limited. The project also won a sustainability award.
COMMUNITY AWARD
Soul Church, Norwich: Designed by Feilden+Mawson, the new home of Soul Church in Heartsease replaced the original building which burnt down in 2006.
STUDENT AWARD
This award recognises outstanding architectural work by a student that demonstrates critical thinking, creative experimentation and a strong commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
This was won by Anastasia (Asya) Milenko.
The awards were organised by The Norwich Society, RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Norfolk, Norwich University of the Arts and the Norfolk Gardens Trust.
