Winner & Best in Region - Theatre Porto, Ellesmere Port, submitted by Cheshire West & Chester Council, Theatre Porto, Equans, Bennetts Architects, Lambert Smith Hampton
Theatre Porto championed the reuse of a rich heritage of buildings for the benefit of people, communities, and the environment. It has seen the restoration of a locally listed Victorian manor building and transformed it into a new cultural hub for its local community. Situated in the heart of Whitby Park, the building has been extended with a new purpose-built auditorium, replacing previous detrimental additions to the original building.
The judges were blown away by this submission, especially having seen it completed and in use. The extension of the locally listed Whitby Hall, coupled with the bold yet respectful use of colour and materials makes this project stand out. The innovative use of sustainable methods to heat and cool the theatre were also recognised as important to the overall success of the scheme. The judges recognised that the design allows the building to function as a community hub and an integral part of Whitby Park.