Sensational new buildings up for Eisteddfod’s Gold Medal
These are the most amazing new buildings to have been created in Wales, according to a panel of judges.
The projects have been shortlisted for a coveted architectural prize at this year’s National Eisteddfod.
The Gold Medal for Architecture this year features two schools, Rhyl High School, in Denbighshire, and Ysgol Bae Baglan, Port Talbot.
Cardiff University’s Cubric building is also shortlisted, as is a stunning home, the Silver House, in Gower.
Just one of the shortlisted buildings will be given the award on August 5 at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, in Anglesey.
Supported by the Design Commission for Wales, and awarded in association with the Royal Society of Architects in Wales, the Gold Medal for Architecture recognises the importance of architecture in Wales’ culture, and honours architects achieving the highest design standards. It is being awarded to buildings completed between January 1, 2014, and March 14, 2017.
Rhyl High School, in Denbighshire, is a three-storey school for 1,200 pupils.
Designed by European practice AHR, the £23m building is described as featuring “distinctive external finishes evocative of the historic tradition of precious metal mining in the area and reflecting the school’s ethos and aspirations toward gold standard learning experiences”.
Ysgol Bae Baglan, Port Talbot, is a £40m “super-school” for 1,100 secondary and 300 primary pupils.
It brings together Cwrt Sart, Glanafan and Sandfields comprehensive schools, along with Traethemelyn Primary School.
After the school closes for the day, it is open to the community for cultural, social and sporting events.
It has achieved a Breeam Excellent rating and an energy performance certificate of A. It was designed by the pan-UK Stride Treglown.
Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, known as Cubric, is Europe’s largest brain-imaging centre. It was officially opened by the Queen last year.
The cost of the building, including the specialist equipment, was £44m.
It was designed by the global IBI Group.
Located on the coastline of the Gower Peninsula within an Area of Outstanding Beauty, the five-bed Silver House was designed to accommodate a family, relocating from London, who wanted to work from home. It was designed by Swansea, Cardiff and Amsterdam-based Hyde + Hyde Architects.
A number of the shortlisted projects and their design teams have already won a clutch of awards. Silver House was awarded the Royal Society of Architects Wales Best Building of 2017, along with an RSAW award for Architecture and Client of the Year award.
Cubric won Project of the Year and Design through Innovation at the 2017 RICS Awards and scooped a major science buildings award in the Life Science Research Building Category at the 2017 S-Lab Awards.
Director of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales Mary Wrenn said: “The 2017 shortlist demonstrates that Welsh architects are consistently producing high-quality, well-considered buildings at all scales.
“The National Eisteddfod exhibition will travel to other venues across Wales later in 2017, so we hope lots of people will get a glimpse of the country’s best new buildings.”
The shortlist was drawn up by selectors and architects Gwyn Lloyd Jones and Geraint Roberts.