Date 16th January 2012

Salisbury Hostel Alabaré Place wins Civic Society Award for Architecture

A £4.5m hostel for the homeless in Salisbury has won a prestigious architecture award for an outstanding new building.

The New Buildings Awards Scheme prize for Alabaré Place was given by Salisbury Civic Society in a ceremony at the Guild Hall. The hostel has 30 rooms and its focus is a soaring atrium which floods light into the main communal area. Residents live in small clusters comprising six ensuite bedrooms with a shared kitchen and lounge area. Privacy is respected and isolation avoided, with residents able to socialise and enjoy activities.

Alabaré ’s Chief Executive Andrew Lord who received a certificate from Dame Rosemary Spencer, President of Salisbury Civic Society says: “We are delighted to win this award which recognises the excellent and innovative architecture at the hostel. The design has a very positive effect on residents as it is so inspiring. It is a great tribute to all who were involved in this project which took four years of planning and 18 months to build. This is a building that Salisbury can be proud of.”

Alabaré Place was a shared partnership with Alabaré Christian Care & Support and the GreenSquare Group based in Chippenham. The architect was Quattro Design from Bristol and the contractor Morgan Sindall PLC. The structural engineers were Godsell Arnold Partnership from Poole and engineers were Working Environments Limited from Southampton.

Facilities for drop in clients and residents include an IT suite, gym, media room, workshops and laundry. Space has been included for seminars on health education, literacy and numeracy, mentoring and first aid training. Music, photography, art and film making are on offer and drop in clients can have a meal, shower, pick up new clothes and get advice.

At a commissioning ceremony in December the Bishop ofSalisbury, the Rt Rev Nicholas Holtam said: “What an amazing place, it makes you grow! Why does a home matter so much? It gives us somewhere to flop, it gives us privacy and security, it gives us a sense of identity, of who we are. To have a home in our society is a right.”