A NEW youth centre in Tadley has been praised for its architecture and as a landmark building for the area.

The Point, in Newchurch Road, is the new £860,000 youth centre from the Tadley and District Community Association, to provide a space for young people aged 11 to 19.

The project, which opened last year, has won the prestigious RIBA Journal MacEwen Award which celebrates architecture for the common good.

Judges praised the design of the two-story facility, which was created based on the suggestions of the people using it.

Judge Hugh Pearman said: “It’s not easy getting a youth building right – with the right facilities, in the right materials – without appearing condescending or big brotherish.

“This is one of the things that commended The Point to this year’s MacEwen judges.

“On the day I went to see it with architects David Ayre and Dominic Gaunt, along with youth leader Adrian Noad, my immediate response was – this doesn’t feel like a youth club at all. It’s more like a Grand Designs-style house.”

The building plans, which were executed by architecture company Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt, are based around a flexible ‘spine wall’ of storage and activity pods.

These pods are conceived as ‘secret spaces’ situated throughout the building.

On the ground floor there is a café/kitchen space and large multi-purpose hall while the upper level has a fully equipped music room and recording studio, breakout spaces, meeting room and another multi-purpose hall. T

he architects’ director David Ayte added: “We worked with the young people of Tadley to develop a sculptural design that is a landmark building for them and the wider community. More than that it’s somewhere they can truly call their own.

“The roof, with a dark folded ‘cloak’ appearance, gives it a contemporary edge.”