Fabulous homes and a brilliant bridge were among the winners of the York Design Awards 2023

Skelton Hall and 7 Tower Street were so impressive that both received two awards each. 7 Tower Street overlooks Clifford’ s Tower and forms part of a Victorian-era residential townhouse dating back to the mid-late 19th century. It had been converted into offices but the Grade II listed townhouse has now been restored into a more contemporary home which will be commercially rented. It was awarded the commercial/community award and the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by the York Press, and voted for by members of the public.

Skelton Hall is a late Georgian Grade II listed country house that has been painstakingly restored. It won awards in the Conservation and the Residential Single Dwelling categories.

York Scarborough Cycle and Pedestrian Bridge took the top honours, receiving the “Best of the best” Lord Mayor’s Award along with the award for Public Realm/Open Space. The new bridge replaces a 170-year-old river crossing with a wide modern bridge for pedestrians, cycles, pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Linking York railway station with Marygate and the city centre beyond, it provides a seamless route from the station linking up with the city cycle network and major pedestrian routes. It has been designed to be always available, even when the river is in full flood.

The Anne Lister; David Kato student accommodation for 1,480 students at the University of York also received two awards: Residential Multiple Dwellings and Public Realm/Open Space recognising the design of the gardens and lawns and the way in which the existing lakes and wild nature have been incorporated.

Another double award winner was the Digital Skills Academy, an extension to the Learning Resource Centre at Askham Bryan College in the Commercial/Community category and the Sustainability category.

The new facilities at the agricultural college include a centre of excellence for mixed reality, a technology that merges the real and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualisations where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real-time. The building maximises natural light and ventilation and includes sedum matting and oak, York stone paving, zinc and handmade bricks.

Chair of the York Design Awards committee Ann Reid said: “Congratulations to all our 2023 award winners. The judges were impressed with the standard of design and delighted that so many projects entered the awards this year. It’s reassuring to see the high quality of new buildings and restored projects in the city.

“I’d like to thank our sponsors, without whom the York Design Awards simply wouldn’t be able to run in the way that they do, and most importantly the people and organisations who entered.”

The York Design Awards launch every February with entries submitted for judging in May. The awards are organised by a committee of volunteers and all funding is provided through sponsorship and support from Shepherd Group and Portakabin, O’Neill Associates, LEDA, York Architectural Association, York Civic Trust, York Conservation Trust, City of York Council, The Partners Group, United By Design, Ravage Productions, Crombie Wilkinson, Fulprint, York Explore, York Press, The University of York, and The Churchill Hotel.

This year’s judges were Andy Davey from Simpson & Brown architects, sustainability architect; Professor Brian Edwards from the University of Edinburgh, former conservation architect for City of York Council Janine Riley and Nicky Watson, a Director of award-winning JDDK Architects in Newcastle.

The full list of 2023 York Design Award winners is: Commercial or Community (Sall) . Digital Skills Academy, Askham Bryan College Client/Developer: Askham Bryan College; Architect/Designer: Evans McDowell Architects Builder: Ashcourt Group.

7 Tower Street, Client/Developer: Integra Property Management, Architect/Designer: Fining Associates; Builder: York Builder.

Commercial or Community (Large) Wilberforce House, Client/Developer: Wilberforce Trust, Architect/Designer: KS Architects Builder: William Birch & Sons.

Residential (Single Dwelling), The Homestead, Bishopthorpe, Client: Jo Bennett Architect/Designer: Arkle Boyce Architects. Builder: CG Building & Restoration.

Ferry Cottage, Bishopthorpe, Client/Developer: Tony Loftus, Architect/Designer: Shaw Jagger Architects, Builder: York Builder.

Skelton Hall, Client/Developer: Tom Sermon, Architect/Designer: Bramhall Blenkharn Leonard, Builder: Paul Thompson.

Residential (Multiple Dwellings), Anne Lister & David Kato Student Accommodation, Client/Developer: University of York, Architect/Designer: Sheppard Robson, Builder: GRAHAM Group.

Public Realm/Open Space, York Scarborough Bridge, Client/Developer: Network Rail, Architect/Designer: Network Rail Design Delivery, Builder: Amco

Giffen.

Conservation Award, Skelton Hall, Client/Developer: Tom Sermon, Architect/Designer: Bramhall Blenkharn Leonard, Builder: Paul Thompson.

The Georgian Townhouse, Walmgate, Client/Developer: Beth Davies, Architect/Designer: Walker Graham Architects, Builder: Ebor Construction.

Sustainability Award, Digital Skills Academy, Askham Bryan College, Client/Developer: Askham Bryan College, Architect/Designer: Evans McDowell Architects, Builder: Ashcourt Group.

Young People’s Award, Foss Bridge House, Client/Developer, Will Slack Architecture & Design. The Press People’s Choice Award, 7 Tower Street. The Lord Mayor’s Award, York Scarborough Bridge. Visit www.yorkdesignawards.org for more details