Winning building hailed as a real 'labour of love'

A NORTHUMBERLAND visitor attraction has been named the North East Building of the Year at an event celebrating brilliant buildings.

- COREENA FORD

Presented since 1966, the RIBA Awards set the standard for great architecture across the country.

Now, the jury has announced four winning projects at the RIBA North East Awards 2025, including the Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon museum and whisky distillery, a "Tardis-like" coastal conservation centre, the transformation of a Grade II listed former Newcastle department store and a carefully-conserved micro-holiday home.

Ad Gefrin scooped two awards - client of the year, and project architect of the year for Richard Elphick of Elphick Associates - and was named the overall building of the year.

The jury praised the project, which opened in Wooler in 2023, noting: "The building is clearly a labour of love. From the quality of the materials, construction and details, you can feel that every element has been crafted with care and precision."

Ad Gefrin co-founders, Alan and Eileen Ferguson, said: "We are overjoyed at Ad Gefrin's RIBA North East award wins.

"The site where Ad Gefrin sits has been in our family for generations, but was a derelict eyesore.