Leamington architects wins RIBA awards for its office converted from an old shed

A Leamington architects has won two prestigious regional industry awards after it converted an asbestos shed into the state of the art offices where it is now based.
Sjölander da Cruz Architects receive their RIBA Award from Stiliyan Petrov of the Stiliyan Petrov Foundation. Photograph Shevy SandhuSjölander da Cruz Architects receive their RIBA Award from Stiliyan Petrov of the Stiliyan Petrov Foundation. Photograph Shevy Sandhu
Sjölander da Cruz Architects receive their RIBA Award from Stiliyan Petrov of the Stiliyan Petrov Foundation. Photograph Shevy Sandhu

Sjölander da Cruz Architects won the RIBA West Midlands Regional Award and RIBA West Midlands Sustainable Project of the Year Award for its River Studio office in Blackdown.

The RIBA judges commented that “This carefully refined solution has transformed a redundant and unattractive shed into an elegant contemporary and sustainable building in the rural landscape.”

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Following its move from Birmingham last year Sjölander da Cruz converted the old shed into ‘Passivhaus’ eco offices .

Sjölander da Cruz Architects River Studio in Milverton Lane, Blackdown.Sjölander da Cruz Architects River Studio in Milverton Lane, Blackdown.
Sjölander da Cruz Architects River Studio in Milverton Lane, Blackdown.

The £250,000 project won The Architects Journal Retrofit Award last summer and was the first Passivhaus EnerPhit building to be completed in the world.

It uses innovative construction techniques to reduce the energy required to heat and light it by minimising energy loss and maximising the passive gain of heat from the sun.

Marco da Cruz, the company’s director, said: “It’s fantastic that we have received two awards for what we have achieved at River Studio - for the quality of the design and regeneration of the site, and also for its approach to sustainability.

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“We are passionate about giving derelict buildings a new lease of life and about the difference that the Passivhaus energy standard can make to the everyday issues like energy bills.

“By developing our own offices we have experienced first hand the practicality and quality of the buildings which can be achieved, and the huge savings in energy bills.”

An open day will take place at Riverside Studio in August as part of the RIBA Love Architecture Festival.

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