Two SPACE Projects Shortlisted for RIBA North East Awards 2026

Two SPACE Architects projects have been shortlisted for the RIBA North East Awards 2026, placing both Remaking Beamish Pockerley Exhibits and The Goods Shed at Hopetown Darlington, among a strong field of schemes from across the region.

The annual awards celebrate architecture that responds to context, client and community with rigour and imagination. This year’s jury has highlighted projects that range from finely crafted homes in rural settings to the careful restoration of industrial heritage. Within that mix, both shortlisted SPACE projects demonstrate how existing buildings can be remodelled with purpose, allowing history to remain visible while supporting contemporary use.

At Beamish Museum, the Pockerley Exhibits form part of the wider Remaking Beamish programme. A cluster of late Georgian and early Victorian farm buildings, once partially collapsed and left dormant, has been repaired and brought back into active use as a Drovers Tavern, a rural pottery with a beehive kiln, and two holiday cottages. The approach was grounded in research and collaboration, with SPACE’s conservation team working closely with Beamish curators, archaeologists and specialist craftspeople. Decisions were informed by archival material and an understanding of how the farmstead once operated as a working ensemble. Existing stone walls and roof forms were retained wherever possible, with lost elements carefully reinstated using reclaimed and period-appropriate materials. The result is an area of the museum that feels both authentic and newly animated, drawing visitors into spaces that invite use and participation.

At Hopetown Darlington, the Grade II*-listed Goods Shed stands at the heart of a 7.5-acre regeneration of the former Darlington Railway Heritage Quarter. Appointed as lead designers and masterplanners after winning a design competition, SPACE Architects worked with Darlington Borough Council, contractor Willmot Dixon and a broad consultant team to transform a collection of derelict railway buildings into galleries, workshops, cafés and open archives. Built in 1833, the Goods Shed once played a central role in managing goods along the early railway network before falling into disrepair. The restoration required meticulous repair of the slate roofs and stone walls, reconstruction of archways and keystones, and careful restoration of the original floors, iron, and timber structures. Today, the building operates as a gateway to the wider Hopetown site, accommodating café, retail and ticketing functions alongside immersive exhibits. It introduces visitors to the story of the Stockton and Darlington Railway while retaining the weight and presence of its nineteenth-century origins.

"Both the Hopetown and Beamish projects demonstrate a remarkable convergence of heritage and innovation, where we've embraced the challenge of restoring historically significant buildings while integrating contemporary elements to enhance the visitor experience. Being shortlisted for the RIBA Awards is recognition of this celebration of the past and how it has been brought vividly to life for future generations to enjoy."

David Coundon
Director at SPACE Architects

The RIBA North East jury will now visit all shortlisted projects before announcing winners this spring, with regional award recipients considered for national honours later in the year.

For SPACE Architects, the shortlist recognises the discipline of working with treasured historic fabric. Across both Beamish Museum and Hopetown Darlington, heritage is not treated as a backdrop to new design, but as the foundation from which each project grows, allowing buildings that once stood quiet or neglected to serve a renewed public purpose.