Crimple Hall, Harrogate

2024 RIBA Yorkshire Award
2024 RIBA Yorkshire Sustainability Award sponsored by Autodesk

Crimple Hall, Harrogate
ArkleBoyce Architects for Crimple Hall 
Contract value: Confidential
GIA: 1989 m²

The project is a simple yet elegant design for the expansion of the already popular Crimple Hall Garden Centre to create a new food hall. Engagement with the local community has resulted in a sympathetic but undoubtedly contemporary design that sets a new standard for buildings of this type. The site’s context, sustainability and user experience were all carefully considered in its conception. The architect has created a series of large, open-plan spaces covered by sawtooth roofs, referencing the agricultural buildings of the Crimple Valley, on the edge of Harrogate. The building is spilt into three elements: a large farmers’ market area showcasing local produce, an adjacent restaurant and a large service area. These different functions and the existing garden centre are expressed as a series of staggered blocks united by the roof form and the use of light-coloured vertical timber cladding, creating a new cohesive identity for Crimple Hall.

Sustainability has driven the building design, particularly the roof form. The sawtooth roofs admit northern light to naturally illuminate the spaces while preventing overheating and direct light which could affect the produce. High-level openings create stack ventilation to reduce the need for mechanical ventilation into the deep plan’s spaces. Solar panels on the south face of the sawtooth roofs help to provide on-site energy. The timber cladding used throughout has been sustainably sourced. The internal industrial aesthetic of exposed structure and services creates a flexible and easily adaptable building.

The complex is surrounded by fields and views to the wider landscape. To complement and enhance this setting, the existing mature trees have been supplemented by native fruiting trees and new wildflower meadow planting and hedgerows, to provide a rich habitat for wildlife. These naturally landscaped areas form the backdrop to the restaurant and external terrace, emphasising and celebrating the countryside around it. 

The jury praised the way the design has been driven by good engagement with the local community and the client’s commitment to creating a high-quality, sustainable building that fits perfectly into the landscape.

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RIBA Regional Awards 2024 sponsored by EH Smith and Autodesk