The aim of the York Design Awards is to encourage and promote excellence in design and conservation, striving for the highest standards which will delight present and future generations.
Client/Developer: Samuel Guilfoyle
Architect/Designer: ArkleBoyce Architects Ltd
Builder: Vine House Construction
We were asked to create a series of holiday apartments on a site within central York’s conservation area. A derelict, two-storey former restaurant occupied the site but was in a poor state of disrepair and was generally detrimental to the street.
The existing buildings façade treatment, scale, and massing were at odds with the historic streetscape. The proposals sought to retain the existing concrete frame and add a lightweight timber frame to minimise the embodied carbon.
A simple palette of materials and form are a contextual response to the surrounding area and the strict planning requirements of the conservation area.
Client/Developer: Mr & Mrs Widdrington
Architect/Designer: Brierley Groom LLP
Builder: York Property Solutions Ltd
Good design prioritises functionality, ensuring a building meets the needs of its users. This home is carefully crafted to create intimacy, generosity, and well-being, with thoughtful spatial relationships, natural light, and a strong connection to nature.
Located in the village of Earswick, it harmonizes with its residential surroundings while embracing high-quality materials and craftsmanship for longevity and adaptability. Sustainability is central, featuring a high thermal envelope, solar PV system, battery storage, and heat pumps, resulting in top-tier energy efficiency.
Beyond function, the home delights – offering a games room, cinema, gym, garden room, and outdoor kitchen, embodying the essence of a family home.
Client/Developer: Clarion Housing Group
Architect/Designer: Weedon Architects
Builder: Henry Boot Construction Ltd
The conversion of the Cocoa Works factory into 279 residential apartments revitalises this historic site. The design respects the building’s heritage, repairing and upgrading its fabric while adding modern elements like a rooftop extension for penthouses.
The apartments feature large windows that flood spaces with natural light. Sustainability is prioritized by repurposing the existing structure, with careful integration of new elements to strengthen the building.
The building’s exterior is restored with Victorian Red bricks, and a contemporary extension is added. Community spaces, gardens, and history exhibitions like “Sweet Memories” enhance the connection to the local heritage and foster a sense of community.
Client/Developer: York Racecourse
Architect/Designer: Dawson Williamson Architects
Builder: Lindum York
York Racecourse aspires to be one of the best racecourses in the world and it is essential that it continues to evolve and develop its facilities in order to achieve this aim.
Enhancement of the landscape and the creation of new habitats within the brickwork boundary walls that define the racecourse boundaries connect the site to its wider context.
The Bustardthorpe Development adds a layer to the rich architectural tapestry of work by several Architects over nearly three hundred years. Re-using and extending the life span of the existing building stock to create a new generation of spaces for racegoers.
Client/Developer: St Peter’s School
Architect/Designer: Donald Insall/Ferrey & Mennim
Builder: Matthias Garn, Master Mason and Partner
The façade of St Peter’s School, a historic York school, has been secured and enhanced by two phases of conservation work.
Following a fall of stone and stone debris, concerns were raised about the condition of the masonry. Ferrey & Mennim (now merged with Donald Insall Associates) acted as conservation architect alongside Matthias Garn, Master Mason.
The project involved the careful cleaning, conservation and replacement of masonry. The façade is now dramatically improved and the school can continue to be used for generations.
Client/Developer: Osbaldwick PC/Osbaldwick Montessori
Architect/Designer: Self Designed [Mark Warters]
Builder: Self Build [Mark Warters]
Osbaldwick Village Hall renovation project was carried forward as a ‘self-build’ community project between Osbaldwick Parish Council and Osbaldwick Montessori Nursery funded by Public Works Loan Board Loans and assisted with generous help and donations from various businesses and trades to ensure finances stretched to carry out these extensive once in a lifetime works.
The end result is a building fully in keeping with its Conservation Area surroundings and a stunning interior on two levels all built to the highest standards and regulations that has saved the building for future generations when the future looked bleak only a few years ago.
Client/Developer: The Chapter of York
Architect/Designer: Tonkin Liu Architects
Builder: Simpson
The Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills & Estate Management has established the York Minster Precinct as a world class campus facility for research, education and training in traditional craft skills.
The Centre will continue to nurture the craft of stonemasonry whilst encouraging global learning and knowledge sharing. It will also preserve traditional craft skills for future generations, as well as being a shining example of best practice in managing complex heritage estates.
Utilising world-class, cutting-edge technology, it will also support young people in the early stages of their careers and provide dedicated residential facilities for apprentices.
Client/Developer: S. Harrison Developments Ltd
Architect/Designer: CSP Architects
Builder: GMI Construction
This comprehensive regeneration scheme repurposes a previously underutilised site adjacent to York’s Central Historic Core Conservation Area. Styled to complement the local vernacular, the new building is sympathetic in its external design
and detail.
Internally it provides generously sized and immaculately planned sustainable living and amenity
space for 303 students.
Bordering on BREEAM Excellent, the predominantly vehicle-free development, featuring 155 cycle spaces, sits between the city’s two universities. With its bold architecture, imaginative public-access pocket park and active ground-floor frontage, this landmark scheme, impressive in its own right, also provides the catalyst for the further regeneration of James Street.
Client/Developer: Dr Derek Attridge and Ms Suzanne Hall
Architect/Designer: Bramhall Blenkharn Leonard
Builder: York Builder Ltd
Rowan House is a new build dwelling of exceptional quality designed with sustainability and low carbon at its core. The house is constructed from an innovative timber frame structure that is fully filled with 290mm of high performance sheep wool insulation.
The street elevation is confidently modern yet also contextually sensitive, with design features referencing the conservation area in which it sits.
The modern zinc rear facade is gently cranked around the historic apple tree that was retained and forms a wonderfully sculptural centrepiece
to rear garden.
Client/Developer: Stephanie Marshall
Architect/Designer: Native Architects
Builder: Ebor Construction
The 5 St Andrew Renewal reimagines a compact footprint within York’s Historic Core. Thoughtfully revitalised, the design transforms enclosed rooms into open, light-filled spaces with long, inviting views.
It celebrates York’s richly layered historic development, maintaining a strong visual connection to the urban context. Modern sustainable technologies, including a heat pump, mechanical ventilation, sustainable and cradle-to-cradle materials, create a low energy solution to upgrading a dwelling.
With meticulous attention to detail, this project creates adaptable, inspiring spaces that highlight the best potential of refurbishment, enhancing sustainability and comfort in the heart of a historic city.
Client/Developer: The Chapter of York
Architect/Designer: Tonkin Liu Architects
Builder: Simpson
The Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills & Estate Management has established the York Minster Precinct as a world class campus facility for research, education and training in traditional craft skills.
The Centre will continue to nurture the craft of stonemasonry whilst encouraging global learning and knowledge sharing. It will also preserve traditional craft skills for future generations, as well as being a shining example of best practice in managing complex heritage estates.
Utilising world-class, cutting-edge technology, it will also support young people in the early stages of their careers and provide dedicated residential facilities for apprentices.
Client/Developer: The Chapter of York
Architect/Designer: Tonkin Liu Architects
Builder: Simpson
The Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills & Estate Management has established the York Minster Precinct as a world class campus facility for research, education and training in traditional craft skills.
The Centre will continue to nurture the craft of stonemasonry whilst encouraging global learning and knowledge sharing. It will also preserve traditional craft skills for future generations, as well as being a shining example of best practice in managing complex heritage estates.
Utilising world-class, cutting-edge technology, it will also support young people in the early stages of their careers and provide dedicated residential facilities for apprentices.
