Astley Castle wins prestigious Riba award for architecture
A modern holiday home in Warwickshire built inside the ruins of a 12th century castle has been awarded Britain's biggest architecture accolade, the Riba Stirling Prize.
It's the first time the first time a conservation project has won the award.
Astley Castle as ruined by a fire in 1978 and had been in danger of collapse until it was brought back to life by the £1.35 million building project for the Landmark Trust.
Judges of the prize said the winning design dealt with the ruins with "intelligence and practicality", and adding to them architecture which is "rich, visually beautiful and tactile".
The castle was chosen from six shortlisted buildings including the revamped Park Hill 1950s high rise blocks in Sheffield as well as the Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre and a chapel for an order of nuns in Oxfordshire.
Speaking at the awards, Riba president Stephen Hodder said: "Astley Castle is an exceptional example of how modern architecture can revive an ancient monument."
The beautifully designed holiday home sleeps eight and costs from £675 for four nights. But don't go thinking you can book it any time soon. It's fully booked until well into 2015...
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