The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has recently unveiled the shortlist for its 2025 Reinvention Award, a prestigious accolade celebrating the creative reuse of existing buildings to enhance environmental, social, and economic sustainability. In an era where climate change, resource efficiency, and urban regeneration are pressing global concerns, retrofitting and adaptive reuse have emerged as critical strategies in the architecture and construction sectors. Through this award, RIBA aims to showcase how buildings can be thoughtfully reinvented to extend their lifespan, reduce energy consumption, and minimize the environmental impact associated with demolition and new construction.
This year’s shortlist features four exemplary projects that demonstrate the full spectrum of architectural reinvention. Selected from winners of the 2025 RIBA Regional Awards, these projects highlight not only technical innovation but also the potential of architecture to strengthen community ties, preserve cultural heritage, and contribute to local economies. The judging panel emphasized the importance of “reinvention” in its broadest sense: buildings that are transformational in form and function, environmentally responsible, and socially enriching.
Julia Barfield, Managing Director of Marks Barfield Architects and chair of the judging panel, noted, “With such an outstanding and diverse array of entries, spanning sectors, scales, and complexities, our task was challenging. We sought projects that exemplify exceptional reinvention—those that are regenerative, transformative, and meaningful to both society and biodiversity.” She added, “The four projects that emerged at the top include the conversion of a 1930s telephone exchange into a sustainable office building in Cambridge, a socially and structurally transformative project in a derelict church in Kent, the reimagining of a barn in Sussex, and the refurbishment of a Grade II* listed Arts and Crafts building in Oxford. This reflects the rapid pace of change in the industry, as evidenced by the fact that 51% of RIBA UK award winners are now for refurbishment or conservation, with the Reinvention Award showcasing work of exceptionally high quality.”
These shortlisted projects collectively illustrate the diverse potential of architectural reinvention. In Horsham, Kaner Olette Architects’ Knepp Wilding Kitchen and Shop transformed a collection of underused farmyard buildings into a multifunctional destination. Through selective demolition and retention of existing structures, the architects created a harmonious combination of parking areas, a welcoming entrance, a courtyard garden, and a restaurant/café. This project not only provides visitors with opportunities to rest, reflect, and enjoy locally sourced farm produce, but also supports the broader Knepp Estate conservation initiative. The design strikes a careful balance between openness and privacy within the courtyard, and future plans for an additional western building will further enhance the site, creating a dedicated space for talks, exhibitions, and educational programming. Knepp Wilding demonstrates how adaptive reuse can foster ecological and community connections, preserving the historic fabric while introducing modern functions that minimize new material usage and embody low-carbon principles.
In Oxford, Stanton Williams’ transformation of Rhodes House exemplifies how historical buildings can be adapted for contemporary use without compromising heritage value. By reconfiguring underground areas and garden spaces, the project effectively doubled usable space while significantly improving environmental performance. A new helical Rotunda Stair serves as a dramatic focal point, echoing the building’s circular geometry while distributing structural loads outward and downward through the existing vault—a feat of both engineering and craftsmanship. Clear circulation routes and optimized zoning improve user experience for scholars and visitors alike while generating additional revenue to extend the Rhodes Trust’s reach. Rhodes House demonstrates that adaptive reuse is not merely about architectural form but also about maximizing spatial efficiency, enhancing cultural utility, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
In Kent, the Sheerness Dockyard Church, restored and adapted by Hugh Broughton Architects in collaboration with conservation specialists Martin Ashley Architects, illustrates the social potential of architectural reinvention. Severely damaged by fire in 2001, the church has been reborn as a vibrant community hub featuring a café, co-working spaces, flexible meeting rooms, and event facilities, while retaining space to exhibit historic shipyard models dating back to the early 19th century. The project engaged the local community extensively, soliciting feedback during the design phase and inviting residents to contribute skills and labor during construction. This collaborative approach ensures that the building serves not only as a functional space but also as a locus of social cohesion and cultural education. The Sheerness Dockyard Church project highlights how thoughtful adaptive reuse can generate lasting social impact, transforming a damaged heritage site into a center of communal vitality.
In Cambridge, Architype’s Entopia Building stands as a benchmark for environmentally conscious retrofitting. The building combines acoustic treatment and triple glazing to insulate occupants from street noise while achieving exceptionally low energy use. Passive and active strategies work in concert, resulting in a building that is both visually appealing and environmentally performant. Entopia raises a fundamental question for architects and building owners: in retrofitting a building, should priority be given to aesthetic transformation or environmental excellence? The project demonstrates that both objectives can coexist, offering a model for sustainable campus development and informing future policies for energy-efficient estates.
Across these four projects, several important trends in architectural reinvention emerge. Firstly, the careful integration of heritage preservation with contemporary functionality is a recurring theme: buildings are revitalized while their historical character is respected, demonstrating that modern adaptation need not compromise cultural value. Secondly, sustainability has become a central criterion in the design process, encompassing energy efficiency, material reuse, and passive design principles. Thirdly, adaptive reuse increasingly emphasizes social value and community engagement, transforming buildings into platforms for interaction, learning, and cultural participation. Finally, multidisciplinary collaboration is now standard practice: architects, structural engineers, landscape designers, and heritage specialists work together to ensure that projects meet the highest standards across technical, functional, and cultural dimensions.
The Reinvention Award is not merely a recognition of individual projects; it reflects a broader shift within the architecture industry toward sustainable, responsible practice. In the context of climate change and urbanization, the adaptive reuse of buildings offers a viable strategy for reducing carbon emissions, conserving resources, and revitalizing communities. These four projects convey a clear message to architects, developers, and the public: heritage buildings are not relics of the past but valuable assets that, when creatively and responsibly reused, can contribute meaningfully to present and future generations.
Moreover, these projects illustrate that the value of adaptive reuse extends far beyond architecture itself. Knepp Wilding demonstrates the integration of ecology, education, and visitor experience within a farm setting. Rhodes House showcases how historical buildings can be optimized to support intellectual communities and long-term organizational sustainability. Sheerness Dockyard Church emphasizes social cohesion and skill-building through participatory design and construction. Entopia Building offers a replicable standard for low-energy design and environmental stewardship. Each case illustrates how architectural reinvention can simultaneously enhance social, cultural, and environmental outcomes, serving as a model for future development.
The 2025 Reinvention Award further signals that architects are increasingly focused on the latent potential of existing buildings. By preserving heritage, improving environmental performance, and optimizing functionality, adaptive reuse represents a critical pathway toward sustainable urban development. It challenges architects to balance aesthetics, engineering, and social responsibility, proving that thoughtful design can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously. As more projects embrace these principles, adaptive reuse is poised to become a leading driver of innovation, sustainability, and community engagement within the architectural profession.
Looking ahead, the continued recognition of adaptive reuse through initiatives like the RIBA Reinvention Award is likely to accelerate the adoption of retrofitting strategies globally. By demonstrating that sustainability, heritage preservation, and social benefit are mutually reinforcing goals, these projects offer inspiration for the design of cities and communities that are resilient, low-carbon, and culturally rich. The lessons learned from these exemplary projects highlight that every building, regardless of age or condition, holds the potential for reinvention—a potential that, when realized, can yield profound environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Ultimately, these projects underscore that architectural reinvention is not simply about preserving the past or creating visually striking designs; it is about envisioning a sustainable future where buildings serve communities, protect the environment, and embody the values of the societies they inhabit. The four shortlisted projects for the 2025 RIBA Reinvention Award illustrate that with thoughtful design, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to sustainability, the adaptive reuse of existing buildings can be both inspirational and transformative. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible in retrofitting and reimagining historical structures, these projects set a benchmark for architects and developers worldwide, highlighting the pivotal role of design in shaping a sustainable, socially inclusive, and environmentally responsible built environment.