Monday, October 20, 2025
Manchester-based firm, Architecture Unknown, was crowned ‘Architect of the Year’ at the prestigious Structural Timber Awards 2025, a high point of the sector’s annual calendar held on Wednesday, October 1st, at the National Conference Center in Birmingham. The practice secured the coveted national award for its exceptional work on the Peel Park Pavilion in Little Hulton, Salford. More than just a successful build, the £950,000 regeneration initiative—delivered in a vital partnership with the Community Little Hulton charity—has been widely lauded as Salford’s inaugural ultra-low-carbon, community-constructed structure. This recognition highlights a powerful trend in the construction sector: the shift towards sustainable, timber-based, and socially responsible building methods.
The Peel Park Pavilion is a masterclass in modern timber technology and collaborative construction. Its innovative framework was built using ‘Magpie,’ Architecture Unknown’s proprietary adaptation of the groundbreaking, open-source WikiHouse modular system. This choice made the project one of the greenest developments in Salford, successfully combining exemplary sustainability credentials with active, hands-on participation from the local community.
At its core, WikiHouse is a digitally fabricated system using intricately jointed plywood components. These precision-cut pieces arrive on site as flat-packed units—much like large-scale, robust furniture—and slot together like an enormous 3D jigsaw puzzle. The simplicity and clarity of the design are key innovations for the woodworking industry, proving that complex, high-performance timber structures can be made accessible beyond the traditional construction site.
This unique, accessible methodology was instrumental in achieving the project’s community-led vision. Over the construction period, a diverse team of more than 100 local volunteers contributed their time and effort. This included 60 students from the Lowry Academy and St Edmunds RC School, providing an invaluable opportunity for young people to gain hands-on experience and literally take ownership of their neighbourhood’s development. Their collective labour transformed the space into a vibrant community hub, which now features a modern park café, essential offices, dedicated meeting rooms, and an outdoor BMX pump track.
Director of Architecture Unknown, Daniel Kelso, expressed profound gratitude following the announcement. “We are absolutely ecstatic to have won ‘Architect of the Year’; to be honest, it hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” Kelso stated. “This award means the world to us because Peel Park Pavilion is a project close to our hearts. It truly embodies our ideals of community-led architecture—it’s not just about delivering a sustainable building, but about giving local people, especially young people, the chance to literally construct their own future.”
Kelso further emphasised the wider significance of the accolade for the building and construction sectors. “Winning this award sends a clear message that community-focused projects matter. They possess the power to create positive, long-term outcomes that reach far beyond the physical structure itself,” he added. “To see this collaborative, low-carbon approach recognised on a national stage is hugely encouraging, and our sincere hope is that it inspires more projects of a similar, progressive nature across the UK.”
The pavilion’s success story highlights the critical role of timber in future-proofing the built environment. Plywood, as used in the modular ‘Magpie’ system, is a rapidly renewable resource, and the low-waste, precision-engineered fabrication process significantly reduces the overall embodied carbon of the building. By embracing this approach, the project offers a tangible model for developers and local authorities looking to deliver net-zero or ultra-low-carbon facilities without compromising quality or cost-effectiveness.
The impact on Little Hulton is already evident. The Pavilion has quickly become an indispensable community asset, hosting a broad spectrum of activities including youth cafés, toddler sessions, craft groups, food clubs, and a variety of family support services. It marks a significant milestone for the Community Little Hulton charity, which continues its mission to enhance opportunities and well-being for residents across the local area.
The regeneration project, a testament to effective cross-sector collaboration, was successfully brought to fruition through the collective efforts of key partners including ING Engineering, Construction Solutions, and Ian Grindey, alongside crucial funding support from the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation.
The evening’s celebrations further underscored the regional strength of Manchester’s architectural innovation, with fellow NSPF member Progress in Practice Ltd, under the leadership of Hannah Dixon, also securing a triumphant three awards. The Structural Timber Awards 2025 thus concluded as a powerful showcase, once again reinforcing the innovation, creative application, and technical excellence that define the UK’s dynamic timber construction and woodworking sector. The Peel Park Pavilion stands as a shining example of how the simple, sustainable material of wood, when paired with revolutionary digital design and community spirit, can build not just a structure, but a stronger future.
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Tags: Architect of the Year 2025, Architecture Unknown, Modular Plywood Construction, Structural Timber Awards
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