Skip to content

Renovated BFI South Bank cinema wins Riba award

Carmody Groarke BFI Riverfront cinemaCarmody Groarke
Judges called the renovation an "exemplar of a modern intervention"

A renovated cinema on London's South Bank has a won a major architecture prize.

British Film Institute (BFI) Riverfront, plus the attached bar and restaurant was one of 29 winners of the 2022 Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) National Awards.

The building's previously outdated entrance was remodelled by architects Carmody Groarke.

The cinema is one of 12 London buildings to pick up a Riba award.

The awards recognise the UK's best new buildings and provide an insight into design and economic trends, according to Riba.

Carmody Groarke BFI Riverfront cinemaCarmody Groarke
The cinema is situated under the arches of Waterloo Bridge

A mock-Tudor house in Surbiton, south-west London, was also among the winners.

Johan Dehlin Mock Tudor houseJohan Dehlin
The Surbiton home was one of many residences to win an award

Kiln Place, a social housing estate in Camden, took an award for a redevelopment of the site which created 15 new homes.

Morley Von Sternberg Kiln Place estateMorley Von Sternberg
Peter Barber Architects said the work at Kiln Place aimed to retain the majority of existing homes

Other winners in London include a Grade II-listed church in Hackney, a community centre in Fulham and a school refectory in Roehampton.

Gilbert McCarragher St John at Hackney ChurchGilbert McCarragher
The refurbished St John at Hackney Church was built in the 18th Century
Rory Gardiner Sands End Arts and Community Centre in FulhamRory Gardiner
Sands End Arts and Community Centre in Fulham won the 2022 Riba London Building of the Year
Jack Hobhouse Ibstock Place SchoolJack Hobhouse
Ibstock Place School in Roehampton was one of two schools in London honoured by Riba

Outside of the capital, Sutton Hoo - a viewing tower at an Anglo-Saxon royal burial site in Suffolk - was also among the winners.

Gareth Gardner/Nissen Richards Studio Sutton Hoo viewing towerGareth Gardner/Nissen Richards Studio
Riba described the viewing tower at as an"extremely brave piece of commissioning by the National Trust"

Other winners included a remote studio in the Scottish Highlands and a renovated North Yorkshire pub.

Tim Soar / Moxon Architects Remote Scottish Highlands studioTim Soar / Moxon Architects
The studio was built on a former quarry site in Cairngorms National Park
De Matos Ryan Hufton & CrowDe Matos Ryan
The Alice Hawthorn pub in Monkton is named after a 19th Century racehorse

Riba president Simon Allford said: "At a time when we need to bring people together and plan for a sustainable future, this year's Riba National Award-winning buildings offer much hope.

"This is a powerful collection of buildings that show, despite the economic, political and social turmoil of the last few years, how great architecture can emerge even in challenging conditions."