Witherford Watson Mann, Astley Castle wins the 2013 RIBA Stirling Prize

For the first time a residential renovation and restoration project has won the "Stirling Prize", an annual award presented by RIBA to British buildings built in the past year.

The architects of Witherford Watson Mann of London transformed the ruins of a 12th century castle in Astley, in Warwickshire, England into a holiday home.

The architects preserved the original castle’s thick sandstone walls, incorporating them in the new construction while keeping the new and the old visibly separate. To reduce weight and improve comfort in the living room and bedrooms, they used wood as a structural element in the interior.
The ruins of the 16th and 18th century expansions on the castle were strengthened and used as outdoor courtyards for the new home.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Design: Witherford Watson Mann
Location: Astley, Warwickshire - UK
Images courtesy of RIBA, ph. Helene Binet, ph. Landmark Trust, ph. J. Miller

http://www.wwmarchitects.co.uk/

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