Congratulations to Chris Hamill of Caroe Architecture Ltd who has won the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings’ Philip Webb Award for his project reimagining the future of Armagh Gaol, carried out during his Part II Masters degree at the University of Cambridge.
The scheme offers a considered and sensitive proposal for this prison which dates from the 18th Century but which is most commonly associated in recent memory with the Northern Irish Troubles. By using the now derelict site as a resource for the training of apprentices in traditional building skills and a hub for education and local archive, the medium-term future of this difficult but fascinating heritage asset is assured, without precluding future re-use options or demanding that lingering issues of contestation be resolved prematurely.
The judges were impressed not only by the creative and sensitive proposal, but also by the quality of material presented and the depth of research and careful thought that evidently informed the work.
More information on the project can be found here: http://cambridge-design-research-studio.com/projects/troubled-legacy/
Chris will be speaking about the project at a SPAB event in London on June 13th 2019.
Temporary work shed built to facilitate repairs and training
