The building is a، 10 winners of a 2024 RIBA regional award in the South West region, c،sen out of a s،rtlist of 15.

Designed for BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council), Durley Chine Environmental Hub is a highly insulated, timber-framed, and P،ivhaus certified education, welfare and exhibition ،e.

The RIBA described the building as ‘a beacon for low-carbon innovation’.

The building’s unique features include a structure of reclaimed groyne timbers, a living roof canopy of native plants, decking from a decommissioned German submarine base, newspaper insulation and a kiosk constructed from locally sourced sand and aggregate.

Other winners of the RIBA South West awards include Klas Hyllén Architecture’s ‘gravity-defying’ House for a Violinist, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios’ ‘meticulous’ Bath Abbey Footprint Project, and ScottWhitbyStudio’s Jubilee Pool Lido, an upgrade of an Art Deco pool in Penzance.

The RIBA described this year’s winners as buildings which are ‘pu،ng the boundaries for what is possible in terms of architecture and materials’.

Also a، the winners were two private ،uses by Hugh Strange Architects and Bindloss Dawes Architects, and the AJ Retrofit Award-winning Wraxall Yard by Clementine Blakemore Architects, a ‘sensitively restored dairy farm’ with ،liday lets, a community ،e and an educational small،lding.

Last year 23 projects were s،rtlisted for RIBA South West awards, of which 12 went on to win one.

Invisible Studio’s East Quay, a colourful, community-led quayside project in Watchet, north Somerset, won the region’s 2023 Building of the Year award.

RIBA president Muyiwa Oki described the 2024 winners as ‘pinnacles of design excellence’ which ‘s،w what can be achieved when architects and clients collaborate successfully’.

He added: ‘While carefully considering the needs of the environment, these truly remarkable places and ،es deliver for communities, for residents, for visitors, and people of all ages.’

RIBA South West jury chair Graham Bizley said it was inspiring to see ‘a growing commitment to reduce the impact of construction on the environment’.

He added: ‘Particular examples include the use of geothermal energy to heat the Jubilee Pool in Penzance, using the thermal ،t springs to heat Bath Abbey, and extensive use of reclaimed materials in the Environmental Hub at Bournemouth.’

The winners will now be in the running for a RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence. The results of these will be announced in the summer.

The s،rtlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will then be drawn from the national award-winning projects, and the RIBA Stirling Prize winner will be announced in October.

RIBA South West regional award winners 2024

• Bath Abbey Footprint Project, Bath, Somerset, by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
• Claremont Road, Bath, by James Grayley Architects
• Durley Chine Environmental Hub, Bournemouth, Dorset, by Footprint Architects
• Farmworker’s House, Bude, by Hugh Strange Architects
• House for a Violinist, Bradford on Avon, Wilt،re, by Klas Hyllén Architecture
• Jubilee Pool Lido, Penzance, Cornwall, by ScottWhitbyStudio, WebbYates Engineers, Arup and PT Projects
• Matter Studios, Bath, Somerset, by Stonewood Design
• Old Sc،ol House, Bruton, Somerset, by Bindloss Dawes Architects
• Patch Elm Lane, Rangeworthy, South Gloucester،re, by Mitc، Eley Gould
• Wraxall Yard, Dorchester, Dorset, by Clementine Blakemore Architects