Design Awards - TrustNews Feb 2005
Winners of the Trust's Awards were announced at a reception hosted by University College Winchester at the West Downs Centre.
Trust Chairman, Mrs Pat Edwards, welcomed the Mayor, Councillor Mrs Cecily Sutton, and guests who included all those who had entered schemes for the 2004 Design Awards, the judges and the organisers of the whole process, Norman and Ann Roberts.
"The Trust's first presentation of Design Awards took place in 1984 and does not take place every year" said Mrs Edwards "but this is the seventh such occasion.". Introducing Vice-President Donald lnsall, CBE, she referred to the Trust's good fortune in having such an eminent conservation architect to assist in caring for Winchester.
High Standard of Entries
Donald Insall spoke warmly of Winchester, its heritage and setting, highlighting the recent welcome news that Winchester came second only to York in visitor a popularity poll of British cities. Announcing the Awards, he emphasised the high standard of entries, which had impressed the judges whose criteria had been: 'demonstrations of good practice in civic design. Interiors are taken into account in public buildings only'.
The judges were Robin Haddow - Chairman, Hampshire RIBA, Richard Baker - Architect and Planner, Nick Carey-Thomas, Architect, Shione Carden and lain Patton both from the Trust.
Full of Inventiveness & Joy
Awards went to: newly built Osborne School designed by Architects Daniel Keeler and Nick Yarrow from Hampshire County Architects. It was described as being 'full of inventiveness and joy, particularly the central corridor and ramp which forms the heart of the building’.
Then, Winchester College Music School, by NVB architects of Frome at the heart of both the College campus and the City. ‘Its scale and form complement the adjacent St. Michael's church and College houses.'
And West Downs Centre, converted and extended from a boys' school to conference centre and teaching area, was the work of Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects LLP of Bath. The judges felt that the old school's motto Honest, Brave, Pure summed up the design.
Commendations went to Loch Fyne Restaurant where rehabilitation and restoration was the work of Edwards Rogers Associates Ltd., London. The judges ... 'hoped that eating at the restaurant would inspire customers who might be undertaking their own projects'. Then St Bede C of E Primary School, returned to life after total flooding, by Hampshire County Architects.
Wessex Court, originally an unlovely modern building turned into flats by Huw Thomas Associates was also commended, as was Shechem House by Snug Projects Ltd.
Warm Tribute
Chris Higgins, Director of Estates at University College, Winchester, paid a warm tribute to the architectural skills and engaging personality of Richard Feilden who had recently died in a tree-felling accident in his woodland. His influence had transformed building policy at the College and West Downs Centre and the adjacent student village were fitting monuments to his work.
Addendum. The Trust would like to be associated with this tribute. Members who attended the Design Debate in May last year will remember Richard's lively defence of modern architecture.