Reflections: Purcell’s Place in Architecture

In the last few years, Purcell projects have repeatedly won RIBA National and International Awards, earning annual recognition that our work represents the best in British architecture across the globe.

On the world stage, in Hong Kong we achieved RIBA International Award for Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage & Arts in 2021. In 2023, our essay of traditional craftsmanship at Radley College Chapel, Oxford, was one of only 30 projects across the country to win a prestigious RIBA National Award, with judges praising it as a “masterclass in modern architectural design”.

Previous years include National Awards for Durham Cathedral Open Treasure in 2018, and several RIBA Regional Awards, including Kresen Kernow, Cornwall, in 2021. Judges described how Purcell’s “expertise in repair, reinstatement and integration of new and old, along with the unwavering client support offered throughout all stages of funding and project logistics has paid dividends.”

This year, however, has been an exceptional year for Purcell. Three out of a total of 26 schemes claiming RIBA National Awards in 2024 were by Purcell – Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland in collaboration with Niall McLaughlin Architects, Battersea Power Station, London, working with Wilkinson Eyre, and the National Portrait Gallery, London, with Jamie Fobert Architects.

The awards criteria provide reflection on an industry which now acknowledges conservation and sensitive re-use as essential areas of architecture.

With our dedication to creating sustainable places for people that honours our heritage and advocates for a low carbon future, Purcell is now seen as a leading light in architecture that respects the past and delivers meaningful change to people and planet alike. Our multiple RIBA Award wins provide welcome industry recognition for our work.

With so many architects now designing for adaptive reuse, it was even more relevant that Purcell was acknowledged as architecture leaders at the very highest level of critical acclaim. Our National Portrait Gallery project was announced as one of the six shortlisted projects in 2024 competing for the coveted RIBA Stirling Prize, an accolade presented to "the architects of the building that has made the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture in the past year".

Unfortunately, a Stirling win was not to be this time. We congratulate the Elizabeth Line which ultimately triumphed as the worthy winner for its extraordinary achievement, and the profound message it gives about underlining the importance of forward-looking design in British public transport infrastructure for all.

During the run-up to the Stirling Prize announcement in October my reflections on Purcell’s place in architecture reminded me that this is in fact not the first time that a project to which Purcell has made a major contribution had been on the RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlist.

We acted as Heritage Architects on the British Museum World Conservation & Exhibition Centre, Stirling Prize Shortlisted in 2017. I led the Heritage Architect role through RIBA Stage 5 Construction, and before me, eminent past colleagues including Michael Morrison OBE and Nigel Sunter had made extraordinary contributions to shape the scheme through design stages and statutory consents, working closely alongside Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.

The National Portrait Gallery project is, though, the first time that Purcell have taken a leading role in designing and delivering a shortlisted project – here alongside Jamie Fobert Architects as Lead Architect. Enabling us for the first time in our almost 80 year history to describe ourselves as an RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlisted practice.

Recognition of the National Portrait Gallery project on the RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlist builds directly upon Purcell's evolving legacy of architectural excellence. More than that, it represents the fundamentally important role reimagining our heritage now plays in creating a well-designed built environment for our sustainable future, in spaces that belong to everyone.

Focused on minimising new build and maximising re-use of the Grade I listed building, our thorough re-think of underused space has created 18% more public space. At a time of climate crisis, the transformative project approach to designing sustainably was to create only 42m² of new build but unlock an underused 950m² across the historic building into public space.

Described by the RIBA Journal July 2024 as “Unshowy and assured, this forensic reworking gives a much-loved institution a fresh way forward.” Oliver Wainright confirmed it as “invisible mending at its finest”, and our rigorous focus on bespoke detailing informed by, and evolving the Victorian historic materiality, detailing and craftsmanship is a hallmark of the scheme’s design concept.

Through our collaborative effort working closely with Jamie Fobert Architects since the 2016 competition, together we have ensured National Portrait Gallery transformation celebrates its rich heritage while embracing a concept for the future that is inclusive, engaging and inspiring for generations to come.

Genuinely focused on enhancing physical and intellectual access for everyone in our design interventions, in the six months since it opened in July 2023 the National Portrait Gallery welcomed a record 1.4m visitors including a 66% increase in first-time visitors who hadn’t previously considered the gallery for them, a 61% increase in families, and an impressive 357% increase in disabled visitors.

In her article in Building Design 28 October 2024, Eleanor Joliffe wrote “celebrating a profession that’s as much about collaboration and civic impact as it is about buildings, this year’s Stirling Prize embraces architecture’s wider purpose.”

This dynamic and highly successful collaboration with Jamie Fobert Architects continues with our work together at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the Tower of London, and in one of our four collaborative team shortlistings for the British Museum International Architectural Competition.

Across the practice, collaborations continue to underpin our approach – with Selldorf Architects we lead the NG200 transformation of the National Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing, our project at Grade I listed Haigh Hall is alongside Witherford Watson Mann, and together with Reiach & Hall we are evolving the future reinstatement strategy for, arguably, Scotland’s most significant listed building at the Glasgow School of Art.

With a spirit that is genuinely innovative and collaborative, focused on a planet-positive design approach that champions adaptive reuse over new construction, and pioneering conservation-led approaches to creating sustainable spaces for everyone, Purcell’s place in the architectural industry is stronger than ever as we now step proudly forward as RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlisted architects.