BATTERSEA ARTS CENTRE, SW11
New London Architecture (NLA) certainly seems to think so: the forum has crowned it). The original Grade II*-listed building was severely damaged by a fire in 2015, which meant large parts of the roof and the grand hall were lost entirely at a time when it was undergoing a partly public-funded renovation project. Thanks to the sensitive and imaginative approach of architectural studio Haworth Tompkins, this important community performance space has been able to rise once again from the ashes. The NLA-the aim of which is to promote excellence in design, planning and construction in the capital-also put Royal Wharf Pier, E16, by Nex, top in the Moving category and chose 1, Finsbury Avenue, EC2, as the winner in the Conserving section.
