Pup's project Surrey Docks Farm was awarded the Architect Journal's Retrofit Award 2021 for Cultural Buildings under £5m, from a shortlist of practices including Mae, Dow Jones and HAT Projects.
'An impressively coherent scheme which reinvents the building’ is how the judges described the refurbishment, reinstatement and expansion of this city farm, a centre for education about the environment and responsible farming.
The rework of this small group of farm buildings came after extensive local consultation and was commended for its holistic approach to sustainability and reduction of its carbon footprint, from the specifying of materials, to choosing local suppliers and minimising construction waste. The result not only improves facilities and accessibility for its local users, but creates a flexibility of space which allows the farm to be used for commercial events, helping ensure its future financially. The project was particularly commended for the thoroughness of its design approach, exhibiting ‘a modesty and consistency in its material language and approach at all scales.