A CONVERTED croft on a Scottish island has won a prestigious architecture award.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced Croft 3 on the Isle of Mull as the winner of the 2024 RIBA Reinvention Award.
The conversion was led by the London-based architecture firm fardaa.
The RIBA award recognises buildings that have been creatively reused to improve their environmental, social, or economic sustainability. It shines a light on “retrofitting” – increasing the longevity and energy efficiency of existing buildings and reducing the need for demolition and new construction.
The ruined croft which has won the award was bought by the owner to expand her busy Mull restaurant.
RIBA said that Croft 3 is “an exemplar in low-carbon restoration”.
“Fardaa have brought to this project great skill and sensitivity, extending and transforming a ruin into a carefully detailed restaurant much-loved by its local community on the Isle of Mull.
“The judges were delighted by the care and expertise evident in every aspect of this project.
“The relationship between the restored stone building and its new timber extension is finely judged, each bringing focus to the other, and a shared language of detail brings a deft coherence.
“Of its place both in its architecture and its use, it reminds us that architecture doesn’t need to operate on a large scale to be powerful.”
Edward Farleigh, the founder of fardaa, said: “We are delighted that Croft 3 has won the 2024 RIBA Reinvention Award.
“The project illustrates how the character of historic buildings can be successfully integrated with contemporary design whilst benefiting local people and minimising carbon emissions. This award acknowledges a combined effort, with a driven and progressive client, a fantastic design team and the will of a strong, supportive community.”
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