Are these the best new buildings in York?

Eleven of York’s newest buildings and open space developments have been rewarded for their commitment to good design in the 2016 York Design Awards.

Held in the University of York’s Ron Cooke Hub, a previous winner, the ceremony celebrated a diverse range of projects from across the city.

Twenty-nine entries in seven main categories were discussed by an independent panel, with architect Julian Bicknell delivering the feedback.

Chair of the awards Janet Hopton said:

From small home extensions to high profile new buildings, these are the unusual, beautiful and functional designs that scooped the plaudits and prizes.

York’s award winning buildings

York Art Gallery

The gallery, which is in the running for museum of the year at the 2016 ArtFund awards, was the big winner of the night, picking up a public, community large and Lord Mayor’s Award.

It reopened last summer after two years of redevelopment and is currently hosting Truth And Memory, the largest collection of British First World War art for nearly 100 years.

King’s Square

King’s Square won an award in the category for open space and conservation.

The square was widened and repaved in stone last year and Colliergate was narrowed and paved with concrete setts.

Walmgate Bar

Renovated by City of York Council for more than a year, the bar picked up the residential large award.

It’s the most complete of the four main medieval gateways in the city and has maintained its historic features throughout the development, including the stone archway dating back to the 12th century.

Hiscox on Peasholme Green

One of the newest large buildings in the city, this striking, modern development won in the commercial large category.

Designed by Make architects, it features sculptural art, a grand staircase and a decommissioned Soviet rocket as its centrepiece.

Student Castle on Walmgate

The university’s home-away-from-home accommodation block won in the residential large category.

It was designed to be stylish, neutral and functional, offering student essentials like cycle storage, ultra-fast WiFi and security.

The Shadow House on Belle Vue Terrace

This unique private home extension by Doma architects received an award in the residential small category for its highly contemporary response to the existing property.

A glass slot provides a visual separation between the existing brick house and the extension, and the use of dark materials gives the impression that the extension is in the house’s shadow.

Private home on Badger Wood Walk

Mass Architecture positioned the new extension to this private property, which won an award in the residential small category, at 90 degrees to create a Japanese-inspired courtyard bounded on two sides by an existing leylandii hedge and a specially-designed larch fence.

St Leonard’s Place Café and Conveniences

The judges were particularly impressed with this unusual development, giving it an award in the commercial public and community category for its improvements to public conveniences.

Your Bike Shed

Doubling as a café and cycle repair workshop, this space quirkily incorporates bicycle parts and has been designed for people to “relax, repair and refuel” themselves and their bikes.

Singled out for its “surprise factor”, the building won an award in the commercial public and community category.

Le Tour Way, Acomb

City of York Council’s new housing development received an award in the residential large category.

The judges praised the architect and developer for delivering new homes that far exceeded the standards usually seen in a development of this kind.

Hotel Indigo on Walmgate

The people’s award, voted for by the public and readers of The Press, went to the developer of this stylish new hotel on Walmgate.

As a boutique hotel, the building fits the judging criteria of “quality of design” and “ability to delight”.