Chilterns Buildings Design Awards 2008

Jeny Habib reveals the results

The Building Design Awards are organised jointly by the Chiltern Society and the Chilterns Conservation Board.

The design awards are now well known. This year was our 10th anniversary, and we had a very good response, with 23 varied projects to judge.

They included a school for children with special needs, a new row of 15 housing units, 2 affordable housing projects, a care home, 4 barn conversions, 3 house extensions – one to a listed building, a sports hall, a toilet block, a Heritage Trust centre, extensions to a public house, 4 new houses, a healthcare unit, a village hall upgrade and a chalet rebuild.

The judges take care to review all the entries before deciding which ones to visit. It is a difficult task, because every entry has its merits and the process takes a whole morning. I would like to remind everyone that the information sent in with the entry must include photographs of the building and as much explanation as possible. Eight entries were selected for final judging, and after visiting all of them on a day’s drive around the Chilterns the final decisions were made.

The Overall Winner
Holmwood, at Penn, was a rare find: a beautifully detailed new house in a delightful garden setting, looking out over sweeping lawns and woods, in the style of the Arts and Crafts movement, but with state of the art services. It was chosen for its meticulous care in detailing and excellent quality of workmanship. Every corner, both inside and outside, added to the overall effect. The photographs show the excellent proportions and massing of the building, the high standard of brickwork, the charming decorative detailing of the chimneys, window framing and arched entrances, and the overall balance and dignity of the design.

Owner: Miss A Lake
Architect: Christopher Gregory of Danks Badnell, Windsor
Builder: R J Clyde Builders Ltd, Maidenhead

Special Project Award
This was given to the Sports Hall built for the Moulsford Preparatory School, on the bank of the Thames. It sits on a high bank overlooking the river, to one side of the delightful Victorian school building, but nearer the river. It is a completely modern building but contrasts very well with the school. From the river it resembles a pavilion. The changing rooms, with a lower height roof, have been designed to reduce the visual effect of the huge height and area of the internal space required, and the materials used – a cream coloured wooden boarding, and grey slate roof – will weather well. The wooden balustrade round the balcony and stairs on the river side completes the visual effect very well.

Owner: Moulsford Preparatory School
Architect: Mark Webber of Nicholls Brown Webber, Henley-on-Thames
Builder: Feltham Construction, Newbury

Highly Commended
We awarded this to Tithe Barn, Flamstead Farm, Ashley Green, a conversion which was unusually well done, and achieved a fine result in a constrained site on a tight budget. It has been carried out with great sensitivity for the original structure and every detail has been thought through. Wherever possible the original materials have been re-used, and where new materials were needed they have been chosen appropriately to enhance the ‘ancient barn’ quality of both the internal and external appearance. The original framework has been preserved and remains exposed internally. Even where the vertical frames run across the upper floor windows they have been continued, but a carefully concealed hinge enables the bar to be opened from inside to allow escape in case of fire. The upper floor has only been added over the central area, with access via a light wooden bridge across the entrance hall from the stairs at the end. This adds interest to the full height entrance and reveals the old roof trusses and beams in all their glory.

Owner: Mr and Mrs Adams
Architect: Emma Adams
Builder: Martin Johnson, Hemel Hempstead & David Mackin, Berkhamsted

Other noteworthy entries
There is no space to write about all the other entries, but two were of special interest, coincidentally both in Berkhamsted.

The Great Barn, Castle Hill, which has been renovated, having become almost derelict. One of the largest barns in the Chilterns, it has been carefully preserved in its original form through half of its area, as can be observed through glass walls from the house in the other half. This innovative approach reveals the huge scale of the building, and some of its interesting historic features.

Owner and builder: Thameside Homes Ltd, Ivinghoe
Architect: Peter Newson Associates Ltd. Essendon, Hatfield

The little row of 7 ‘cottages’ (pictured) – each of which is actually two flats – and one house, at 77 High Street. This is a charming way to use a narrow site and reflects the original old cottages around it.

Owner and builder: Mercantile Land Development, Towcester
Architect: David Oliver of Mercantile Land Development, Towcester

Call for entries
If you know of a project which was completed in the last three years, you can nominate it for the next award. To find out more about the awards scheme and how to make a nomination, please navigate to: About us > Buildings Design Awards.

 

 
Winner. Holmwood, Penn.
Moulsford Preparatory School wins Special Project Award.
Tithe Barn, Flamstead Farm receives Commendation.
Other noteworthy entries. 77 High Street, Berkhamsted.