The architects behind Manchester Jewish Museum’s 2021 redevelopment project have won two awards at the 2023 RIBA UK Awards.
Citizens Design Bureau scooped the awards for RIBA North West Award 2023 and RIBA North West Project Architect of the Year 2023 for Director Katy Marks and Candice Moore.
Manchester Jewish Museum reopened on 2 July 2021 after a two-year redevelopment project. The work was planned and implemented by a team of specialists organisations and contractors including architects, structural engineers, exhibition designers, conservation consultants, historic painters and stained glass window restoration experts. The work was funded in part by a £3 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Renovations to Manchester Jewish museum including a modern extension housing a new vegetarian café, gallery shop and learning studio with kitchen. The Corten clad façade lights up at night like a beacon on Cheetham Hill Road, with the light shining through the intricate patterns that mirror the designs by the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue’s original architect, Edward Salomons.
The gallery, designed by All Things, showcases a stunning collection based around three universal themes of journeys, communities and identities, sharing the stories of Jewish Manchester with the world. The new space welcomes and reflects the diversity of Manchester’s Jewish Communities and the museum’s local community, creating a space for sharing and connection.
The RIBA Regional Jury who visited the museum as part of the judging process wrote in their journal: “The museum places the community it serves at its heart through the building and programming, as is evident in the generous kitchen area provided. The architect highlighted the importance of food within the Jewish culture, as well as the design process for this building. Walking through the corridor to the rear of the synagogue, the smell of freshly baked goods bore evidence of the cookery workshop taking place. The environment was warm, inviting, and welcoming.”
Manchester Jewish Museum – image courtesy Joel Chester Fildes
