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City of Winchester Trust Design Awards

The City of Winchester Trust Design Award Scheme has been established since 1984 on a bi-annual basis )(see archives - Galleries) to recognise quality in the design of buildings and landscape within the City of Winchester. It covers new buildings (of any size) rehabilitation and restoration, landscape and planting, shop fronts, signs and environmental improvement schemes.

Design Awards 2013

The awards for 2013 were administered by Trust Member David Marklew. The Award Ceromony was held in the Stripe Conference Centre at Winchester University on 21st October 2013.

Judging Criteria

The Trust's Design Awards are made for buildings and other projects which are of merit and add to the public ‘Winchester scene‘.

The Judging

A panel of four distinguished Trust members and was chaired by Paul Appleton, a senior partner with Allies Morrison Architects, has made its choices for this year's Awards and Commendations.

The Entries

New Buildings

Blue Ball Hill - Short Listed
Cedar Lodge, Grange Road - Short Listed
Chestnut Mead, Kingsgate Rd - Short Listed
Lanham Lane
Pastoral Centre,
St Peter's Church - Short Listed
Saxon Haus, Dean Close - Short Listed
Stealth House,
Lower Stanmore Lane - Short Listed
St Alphege Building,
University of Winchester - Short Listed
The Limes, St Giles Hill

Refurbishment/Restoration

6 Ranelagh Rd - Short Listed
18a St Faiths Road - Short Listed
26 Clifton Road
74 Romsey Road - Short Listed
The Guildhall Old Hyde House,
Hyde Street - Short Listed
The Long House,
Woodfield Drive - Short Listed
The Old Vine, The Square - Short Listed
Clarkes, Sleepers Hill
St Thomas Street - Short Listed
Summer House, Sleepers Hill

Public Art

St Lawrence's Church Porch - Short Listed

Landscape

The High Street and The Square - Short Listed

Sustainabilty

Saxon House - Short Listed
St Alphege - Short Listed


(click on the thumbnails to view a larger image):

Members' Choice

At the Trust's AGM shortlisted entries were exhibited and members were invited to vote for their top three choices.

These were:
1 The St Alphege Building
2 The RC Church Pastoral Centre
3 Cedar Lodge

Judges Decisions:

Joint Overall Winner and Sustainability Award

St Alphege Building, University of Winchester:

Client — University of Winchester
Architect/designer — Design Engine Architects
Builder — Geoffrey Osborne Ltd


This building accepts its responsibility (to the activities which happen in it and to the spaces which it completes and creates outside) with a commendable lightness of touch. Its accommodation is robust and adaptable, light and spacious. Its common spaces combine an appropriate simplicity with playfulness. Most importantly, it completes the public spaces which define the approach to the university as a whole. It is an exciting building but one which complements rather than competes with its surroundings.

It was awarded our sustainability prize partly because it wore its considerable credentials in this field modestly, without show. Well designed despite the limited budget. The external elevations make a very positive contribution to the street scene; a good use of the site.

Joint Overall Winner

The Long House, 74 Woodfield Drive:

Client - Ian and Lucy Golding
Architect/Designer - Dan Brill Architects
Builder - Roger Ward

The Long House, 74 Woodfield Drive
The Long House, 74 Woodfield Drive

There was never any doubt that this house would win our highest award. From a modest 1950s house, the architects have created a piece of architecture of staggering simplicity and poise. The story this house tells, through its sublime spaces and effortless detail, is of a collaboration between architect and client, an innate understanding which is incredibly rare.

As a model for the suburban house this project offers the simple idea of arranging the bedrooms along the boundary fence. When undertaken with this amount of skill, the simplest ideas are sometimes the best.

Restoration Award

Old Hyde House and Barn:

Client - Winchester City Council
Architect/Designer — ADAM Architecture
Builder — Gentle Consulting

Old Hyde House and Barn
Old Hyde House and Barn

This is a careful, intelligent restoration and extension of two important buildings which might otherwise have continued to decline. The approach to the buildings themselves is subtle and well-judged.

If there is a single regret, it may be that a tetrastyle atrium seems a little out of place in the link between house and barn; it would always be a hard thing to pull off in an office reception! The classical language of the new additions may not be to everyone's taste but here they are an example to those who pick one style over another — done thoughtfully and well here, it is a great success and we particularly enjoyed the specially cast, iron columns; fine, elegant and entertaining.

This is an example of how to love and how to occupy an old building. Its latest custodians will not, one feels, ever let it down.

Landscape Award

The High Street and The Square:

Clients — HCC and WCC
Architects/Designers — HCC and WCC
Builder — Mildren Construction

The High Street and The Square
The High Street and The Square

The quality of our streets and public spaces says more than anything else about our relationship with the city.

In Winchester that relationship is in really good hands. This is an exemplary piece of cityscape. It is urbane and well-mannered, as well as well-judged and skilful.

We have seen many towns ruined by a paraphernalia of street clutter which dominate cherished views; many others by over-demonstrative schemes which dominate rather than complement external spaces. This, in contrast, finds just the right balance and should be applauded. It is quite right to prioritise the High Street and to work outwards; the next challenge will be to civilise spaces such as Jewry Street, St George's Street and North Walls which will be a harder challenge but one which this laudable scheme suggests will eventually be overcome.

Commendation for Public Art

St Lawrence Church Entrance

Client — PCC of St Lawrence Church
Architect/Designers - James Lunn-Rockliffe and Tracey Sheppard
Builder — CBS Construction and Nero Designs

St Lawrence Church

We awarded the new glazed screen at the entrance to St Lawrence Church a commendation for public art. Although some reservations were expressed about the need for a screen, and whether it therefore detracted from the appreciation of the church, there was no disagreement about the care and skill in the execution of a sumptuous piece of glass engraving. It is hard, in a critical contemporary world, to find a place for decoration in churches. This project illustrates that light, captured in glass, allows a boldness which would not be possible elsewhere in the fabric.

Commendation

The Old Vine Back Yard

Client — Marcelo Pugliese
Architect/Designer — Design ACB
Builder — Stubbington Builders

The Old Vine Back Yard

There was much debate over whether a pub constituted part of the public domain but, after sitting down to a well-earned lunch the consensus that it did was easier to establish. This is a modest scheme but one which achieves exactly what it sets out to do: to preserve the unique character of a well-loved pub while transforming its underwhelming back yard.

We all admired the simplicity of the solution and the tenacity with which the designers have approached such a small project. The existing listed pub is treated with great respect and confident new details never seen to be competing, rather revealing what might not have been noticed before.

Commendation

The Saxon House, Dean Close:

Client — Mr and Mrs Bannert-Thurner
Architect/ Designer - Snug Projects
Builder - LST Projects

The Saxon House, Dean Close

This uncompromisingly modern house ducks and dives around a tricky site to produce a charming ‘courtyard’, enclosed by an ‘L’ shaped plan. Its footprint is constrained by a (bizarrely empty) electricity sub-station, whose scruffy presence must now be an embarrassment to the authority.

Though formally uncertain in places, this is a lovely house for living in and should be applauded.

Commendation

18a St Faith's Road:

Client — Mrs Isobelle Claisse
Architect/Designer — Alexander Design
Builder— Fitzgerald Builders

18a St Faith's Road

Having not managed to get into this house, we were forced to judge it only by its contribution to the street. While the local audience was evidently uncertain about its aesthetics in drawn form, one imagines that they have grown to appreciate them now it is built. It is a very accomplished piece, negotiating its way between a courtyard wall edging the street and a house set back in line with its neighbours. This is a very subtle piece of infill indeed which deftly accommodates many nuances of its context, including a magnificent magnolia tree; a thoughtful and rich exterior.

Commendation

6 Ranelagh Road:

Client - Mr and Mrs Hampson
Architect/Deslgner — Snug Projects Ltd
Builder — MCR Building Services

6 Ranelagh Road

This is a robust and purposeful extension Wl1lCh emphasises the character of a good nineteenth century house by borrowing it rather than contrasting with it. No pastiche here, though, what is borrowed is materials and proportion.

We enjoyed the respectful restraint of this urbane solution to the often difficult problem of two-storey extensions. As with many good things, it looks so easy. (It's not!).

Commendation

74 Romsey Road:

Client — Matt and Amanda McLoughlin
Architect/Designer— AR Design Studio Ltd
Builder— Mike Jacobs Builders Ltd

74 Romsey Road

This previously modest mid 20th century house has undergone major surgery and a wardrobe-change all at once! There is no question that it has emerged fighting fit. We all liked the decision to transform rather than demolish the house, and in so doing to transform life within it. The brand-new additions to the rear certainly lack no bravura and make very good spaces; whether they are as well-composed as the upgraded existing house was a question.

We all liked the decision to preserve the small front room, intact down to its patio doors and fireplace, as an almost humorous reminder of less prosperous times.

Honourable mention

22 St Thomas Street back yard:

Client — Nick Glover
Architect/Designer — Design ACB
Builder — Stubbington Builders

22 St Thomas Street back yard

Should a project which is invisible to the public eye receive an award from the Trust? The jury is still out; but we were all persuaded that this was a subtle and well-executed extension to an important house and that, sometimes, NOT being visible is a credit in itself. Therefore, we had no hesitation in giving this little project an honourable mention.

Honourable mention for Townscape

Pastoral Centre, St Peter's Church:

Client — Portsmouth RC Diocese
Architect/Designer — Masser Architects
Builder— Feltham Construction Ltd

Pastoral Centre, St Peter's Church

This extension is well-judged in its subordinate relationship with the church and makes a positive contribution to Jewry Street. While there were questions about the detailed junction with the church fabric and the resolution of the St Peters Street elevation, the building has clearly been a great success for its users, and deserves its honourable mention for townscape.