Schemes in contention include AHMM’s Assembly Bristol office development as well as its conversion of two Victorian gas sheds into the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus (TQEC) Research Hub for the University of Bristol.

The list also features a house by last year’s Stirling Prize winner Witherford Watson Mann, a reimagined former creamery by Stonewood Design, a rammed earth house masterminded by Tuckey Design Studio, the largest Passivhaus student accommodation project in the UK designed by Stride Treglown, and schemes by Coffey Architects, Studio Bark, De Matos Ryan, Kay Elliott Architects, and Klas Hyllen Architecture.

RIBA South West & Wessex jury chair Sam Goss, founding director at Barefoot Architects, said: ‘This year’s shortlist reflects the breadth, ambition and quality of work being delivered by practices across the South West.

‘The projects demonstrate a commitment to craft, with sensitive and often inventive responses to our landscape, towns and cities, alongside thoughtful explorations of materials and construction. Traditional building types are reimagined alongside innovative architectural approaches, resulting in work of real diversity and distinction.’

He added: ‘Each shortlisted project is clearly the product of close collaboration between committed clients, skilled contractors and dedicated design teams, united in the pursuit of buildings and landscapes that exemplify the highest standards of conservation, design excellence and environmental sustainability.’

House in the South-West by Witherford Watson Mann

Of the 13 projects shortlisted for last year’s RIBA South West regional awards, 10 went on to pick up prizes, including Stonewood Design’s the Story of Emily museum in St Ive, which was also named the region’s Building of the Year.

All the shortlisted schemes will be visited by a jury, and the winners will be announced later this spring.

The winners will then be considered for several special awards, including the Sustainability Award and Building of the Year, before being considered for a highly coveted RIBA National Award, to be announced in the summer.

The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize – the UK’s best new building – will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning projects and announced in September.

The Stirling Prize winner will be announced in October.

TQEC Research Hub by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

Shortlist for 2026 RIBA South West & Wessex architecture awards

Assembly, Bristol by Allford Hall Monahgan Morris
Bristol Beacon by Levitt Bernstein
Holly Tree Cottage by Site Office
House in the South-West by Witherford Watson Mann
Lyme Bay View by Barc Architects
Meadow Bank by MJW Architects
Modern Barn by Coffey Architects
Oolite House by Studio Bark
Purdown View by Stride Treglown
Rammed Earth House by Tuckey Design Studio
SeaSpace Cornwall by Kay Elliott Architects
Sky House by Klas Hyllen Architecture
Stable House by Taw Fitzwilliam Architects
The Buttermarket by Architectural Thread
The Creamery by Stonewood Design
The Pavilion at Cowley Manor by De Matos Ryan
TQEC Research Hub by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

The Pavilion at Cowley Manor by De Matos Ryan