Awards

Biennial awards

The Westminster Society Awards are bestowed for good architecture of social, cultural or civic importance, for restorations that enhance attractiveness and public usefulness, for significant contributions to urban vitality and congeniality, and for imaginative creations that make urban life and work more pleasurable.

In announcing our awards for works typically completed in Westminster in the preceding two years, we do so believing that they have splendidly met our elevated criteria, and are worth the admiring contemplation of anyone who values what makes cities wonderful.

Because the pandemic made visiting nominated awards candidates difficult, no awards were made in 2021. The awards programme resumed in 2022.  

  

Winners and their citations in 2022

For Architecture:
The ongoing achievement of design excellence on the LSE campus with the New Centre building and the Marshall building, London wc
The London School of Economics and Political Science, client, Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners and Grafton Architects, architects

A Basilica’s Triforium is essentially structural, providing horizontal bracing for a lofty nave. Westminster Abbey’s Triforium was virtually inaccessible until funds were raised to make it a public space. The dazzling design that now gets us to it is the Weston tower—a seven-storey sparkler that is beyond contextual: a rich polymorphic design for the ages. Lying in an external niche of the abbey, it confutes its bashful semi-concealment.

For Renovated Architecture:
The renovated galleries, Somerset House, Strand, wc2
The Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, clients; Witherford Watson Mann, architects

The architects have transformed part of historic Somerset House with astute and subtly accomplished improvements, sometimes structurally demanding, that make the renovated galleries emerge with effective and beautiful clarity for the benefit of both present gallery visitors, and the forthcoming return of Courtauld students in adjacent teaching accommodation.  

For Urban Vitality:
The Elizabeth line’s pedestrian passageways, and the design of new stations at Paddington, Tottenham Court Road, and Canary Wharf
Transport for London, client; Grimshaw Architects, Weston Williamson & Partners, Hawkins\Brown, and Foster + Partners, architects

Beyond mere transportation, urban underground travel’s time-shortening, dimension-condensing, and unexpected linking of destinations contribute powerful new capabilities to city dwellers that evoke acclaim as enhanced urban vitality.  This award honours the simple but vivacious tubular envelopes of the Elizabeth line’s pedestrian connections throughout, and the outstanding accomplishment of the new stations at Paddington, Tottenham Court Road, and Canary Wharf. 

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