The biannual SPAB Heritage Awards are returning in 2024, with five categories celebrating the best historic buildings and traditional craftspeople in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The Awards are organised by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) to recognise excellence across the building conservation sector. We’re delighted to once again be partnering with Storm Bespoke Secondary Glazing as our headliner sponsors.
Anyone can enter or nominate a favourite building for the Best Loved Award, Sustainable Heritage Award and John Betjeman Award for places of worship, or an inspiring early-career craftsperson for the Building Craftsperson of the Year Award, while students and recent graduates can show off their design chops by entering the Philip Webb Award.
The Awards are open for entries until Wednesday 31 July, after which they will be reviewed by a panel of expert judges. We will announce the shortlist in September, and the final winners will be revealed at the Awards Ceremony on 14 November.
This year's Awards Ceremony will take place at the fittingly historic Barbican Centre in London, hosted by writer, presenter, broadcaster and SPAB Ambassador Kevin McCloud, best known for Grand Designs. The Best Loved Award will be presented by historian, presenter and social media star Alice Loxton, a.k.a. History Alice, who will also be sharing the winners with her two million followers. The Awards Ceremony will take place during National Maintenance Week, the SPAB’s annual campaign encouraging and supporting people to undertake simple maintenance tasks to keep their buildings in good working order.
Awards
The Best Loved Award recognises and celebrates old buildings getting the maintenance they deserve, and the people looking after them. The shortlist is put to a public vote and chosen by you!
The Sustainable Heritage Award, sponsored by Keymer Handmade Tiles, celebrates sensitive, sympathetic and sustainable upgrades and repairs to traditional buildings.
The Building Craftsperson of the Year Award, sponsored by Owlsworth IJP, recognises the best up-and-coming craftspeople and builders working with historic buildings or traditional materials.
The John Betjeman Award celebrates the repair and conservation of places of worship.
The Philip Webb Award is a design competition for architecture students and recent graduates that encourages the sympathetic reuse of existing buildings.
Find out more about each Award and enter now at spab.org.uk/get-involved/awards.
Quotes
Alice Loxton says: "The SPAB is an incredibly important organisation when it comes to heritage in the UK and Ireland, and I've learnt so much about historic buildings and heritage by working with them. I'm absolutely delighted to be partnering with the SPAB for the Best Loved Award this year, and I can't wait to see which wonderful buildings are nominated!"
Kevin McCloud says: “These Awards celebrate excellence in everything I hold dear: conservation, intelligent design, sustainability and craftsmanship. I’m proud to have been a member of the SPAB nearly all my adult life. Since 1877, the SPAB has guided us through the conservation process, built a vast reservoir of expertise, and championed sensitive contemporary architecture in pursuit of the distinction between old and new."
Storm Bespoke Secondary Glazing say: "We are delighted to once again be working with the SPAB and sponsoring the SPAB Heritage Awards to raise awareness and promote the importance of the preservation of historic and listed properties; something of which we share a joint passion. It is fantastic to see our industry, from skilled craftspeople and practitioners to dedicated custodians, being recognised in this manner. Supporting these prestigious Awards is a great opportunity to celebrate our nation’s heritage properties. We continue to be grateful to the work and dedication of the SPAB.”
Keymer Handmade Tiles say: “Keymer inspires and technically enables leading architects and homeowners, who want to push boundaries and make their mark, by providing the highest quality, authentic handmade British clay tiles, as well as an unrivalled specification service, to enhance both heritage and contemporary buildings.”
Owlsworth IJP say: “Owlsworth’s work is to repair and conserve historic buildings, so we support the SPAB for the support it gives to the industry and the craftspeople working in it.”
Further Information
For more information, please email press@spab.org.uk.
Pictures from top; Barbican Centre Conservatory, SPAB Heritage Awards Ceremony Venue 2024 © Max Colson, Alice Loxton, Wilma Wyatt, 2022 Craftsperson of the Year Award Winner - Career Change Category, Wentworth Woodhouse, 2022 Best Loved Award Winner © Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, Kevin McCloud at the 2022 SPAB Heritage Awards © Ralph Hodgson and Falerone, 2022 Philip Webb Award Winner © Michal Saniewski.