A piECE of their mind with Steve Wilkinson

Join us for the next instalment of 'A piECE of their mind', where Steve Wilkinson, 2024 RIBA South Project Architect of the Year, will present the New Temple Complex, an award-winning faith and community building by James Gorst Architects. Completed in 2022 for The White Eagle Lodge, the complex has received international acclaim, including a RIBA National Award, two Civic Trust Special Awards, Gold at the Wood Awards, and Design of the Year from the Architect’s Journal.

In this talk, Steve will take us through the project’s journey - from concept to completion - exploring the design philosophy, sustainable timber construction, and the role of carefully crafted architecture in spiritual and community spaces.

Steve Wilkinson is a Project Architect at James Gorst Architects and was instrumental in the design and delivery of the New Temple Complex. Since joining the practice in 2016, he has played a key role in leading complex architectural projects and has presented the practice’s work internationally.

His expertise in sustainable timber construction has also led to his involvement with industry leaders working to advance the use of timber in the UK. Steve’s contribution to the New Temple Complex earned him the title of 2024 RIBA South Project Architect of the Year.

Founded in 1981, James Gorst Architects is renowned for its technically sophisticated, highly crafted approach to architecture. The practice has built a reputation for award-winning private houses, sensitive heritage restorations, and faith buildings, including a Greek Orthodox chapel in Mykonos and, most recently, the New Temple Complex in Hampshire.

Selected through a two-stage design competition in 2018, James Gorst Architects created a timber-framed series of pavilions, connected by cloistered walkways, surrounding a central courtyard garden. The design follows a procession from secular to sacred spaces, reinforcing the spiritual and communal aspects of the project.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

ECE Architecture, Brighton Road, Worthing, UK, United Kingdom