A wellbeing centre in Southampton for people with cancer has been shortlisted for the Royal Institute of British Architects South Awards 2024. 

Maggie's in Tremona Road on the site of Southampton General Hospital opened in 2021 and features a garden transported into the city from the New Forest.

It was designed by RIBA Stirling Prize-winning architect Amanda Levete from the award-winning AL_A architecture practice.

The full shortlist is:

  • Maggie’s Southampton, Hampshire, by Al_A 
  • New Temple Complex, Rake, Hampshire, by James Gorst Architects 
  • Ravelin Sports Centre, University of Portsmouth, Hampshire, by FaulknerBrowns Architects  
  • Warren View House, Winchester, Hampshire, by Niall McAleenan Architects and Studio September  
  • Bear’s Reach, Bicester, Oxfordshire, by Taw Fitzwilliam Architects 
  • Black House Farm, South Downs National Park, Hampshire, by Robin Lee Architects 
  • Cheng Yu Tung Building, Jesus College, Oxford, Oxfordshire, by MICA Architects 
  • Chestnut Plantation, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, by John Pardey Architects  
  • Harwell Hide, Oxford, Oxfordshire, by Bell Phillips 
  • School Green Centre, Reading, Berkshire, by AOC Architecture 
  • Wadham College, Oxford, Oxfordshire, by AL_A 
  • Woodstock Apartments, Oxford, Oxfordshire, by Adrian James Architects 

RIBA South Jury Chair Chris Williamson, of Weston Williamson + Partners, said:  “This year’s projects illustrate the positive potential for architecture to support wellbeing, contemplation and spiritual practice. 

“There was a fantastic variety of entries; covering large scale refurbished private houses, but also social housing, mixed use, cultural and sports spaces. There’s even a folly in the countryside.  

“From the incorporation of the surrounding garden and New Forest in a cancer care centre, to the harmonious reorganisation of the New Temple Complex interior and fabric-first approach, the shortlisted buildings champion localism and demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of well-designed buildings. 

“Deciding the shortlist was a difficult task as there were a large number of entries emphasising a high standard of architecture across the region. I think I can speak for the jury in saying how excited and privileged we are to undertake these visits.” 

All projects shortlisted for RIBA Regional Awards will be visited by a regional jury, and the winning projects will be announced later this spring.  

The winners will then be considered for several RIBA Special Awards, including the RIBA Sustainability Award and RIBA Building of the Year, before being considered for a highly coveted RIBA National Award, which will be announced in summer.  

The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize – the UK’s best new building – will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning projects, and announced in September. The Stirling Prize winner will be announced in October.