The trust ‘exemplified what every architect hopes for in a client’, according to Purcell, which nominated it for the award. The Shoemakers Museum, a purpose-built visitor attraction housing an archive of 25,000 shoes in Street, Somerset, opened in September 2025 and celebrates the shoemaking heritage of Clarks, which was established in the town 200 years ago.

Purcell praised the trust’s ‘clarity of vision and unwavering commitment to quality’. ‘Their Quaker values, community before self, quality over expedience and long-term stewardship over short-term gain were present in every conversation and every decision,’ said the practice.

Shoemakers Museum gift shop

Source: Nick Guttridge

Judges were impressed with the trust’s commitment, enterprise and sophisticated approach to sustainability at the museum, which combines new build with two listed buildings. This attitude included not hesitating to liquidate shares to fund a doubling of the PV array after energy modelling at Stage 4 showed that this would meet 100 per cent of the museum’s peak energy demands. This decision, said the practice, captures the client’s character better than anything else on the project.

Throughout, said Purcell, the client sought to deliver actual carbon reduction, performance and longevity, rather than certification badges. They embraced early use of CLT and timber-concrete composite construction, a decision that, Purcell said, ‘required real trust in the design team’s judgement’. 

Visitors at the museum

The client supported Purcell’s desire to salvage materials, source locally and design for future re-use. Bricks came from Gloucester and glulam from the UK’s only domestic supplier. Lime mortar was specified throughout for future disassembly and 70 per cent of the Blue Lias stone was salvaged from a demolished link building. An independent life cycle carbon assessment commissioned by Purcell gave the project a LETI A result.

Shortlist

  • Bruntwood SciTech nominated by Sheppard Robson
  • Earls Court Development Company nominated by Hawkins\Brown and Studio Egret West
  • Elea Data Centers nominated by Hyphen
  • Haringey Council nominated by Levitt Bernstein
  • Theatr Clwyd nominated by Haworth Tompkins
  • Tide Construction nominated by Assael Architecture
  • Wandsworth Council nominated by HTA Design