project focus


RIBA’s view


This sensitive scheme places the new building at the heart of the old, demonstrating creativity, preservation and conservation.


The architects have created a new house that allows Landmark Trust guests to experience life in a near thousand-year-old castle with distinctly 21st century mod cons.


Astley Castle demonstrates that working within sensitive historic contexts requires far more than the specialist skills of the conservation architect: this is an important piece of architecture, beautifully detailed and crafted. The decision to put the bedrooms and bathrooms on the ground floor and the communal spaces above makes the experience of the house very special as perhaps the most impressive spaces are the outdoor Tudor and Jacobean ruins.


and help to stabilise the building “Everything was so exact with this job and being just a millimetre out could have effected everything. The architect’s plans were extremely detailed to the extent that every single brick is shown on the drawings,” says Donlon. The project received support from many individuals and institutions including the


Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage. In addition to winning the Stirling Prize for 2013, Astley Castle has established its place as the ‘people’s winner’ having won polls run by the BBC, and The Guardian.


www.landmarktrust.org.uk www.wwmarchitects.co.uk www.williamanelay.co.uk


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