Design Award Winners

Three inspiring and diverse developments in south Warwickshire are to receive a district council design award.  

A contemporary replacement dwelling in Langley, an extension to an Infants School and a temporary theatre building in Stratford-upon-Avon have each been chosen to receive the Stratford-on-Avon District Council's 'Celebration of Excellence' design award 2007.   

This year a special award has also been given to Gorcott Hall, Beoley, a Grade II* listed country house, which dates from the 15th century, for excellence in a restoration project.  

Forty-seven nominations were received for this year's scheme, with a panel of judges whittling entries down from nine short listed sites to the three awarded schemes.  

Harrow House in Langley is a contemporary approach to a replacement dwelling by architect John Carr. The judges commented that the house is, "a bold and contemporary approach to a replacement dwelling, which has consciously avoided a pastiche solution.  The house is sensitively integrated into the site, making full use of the change in levels".  

Rush Davis Design Partnership designed an extension to Studley Community Infants School. The judges described it as "a very special and inspirational building, which raises the spirits and an ingenious design solution that has resulted in the creation of fantastic spaces".  

The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon is a temporary theatre designed by Ian Ritchie Architects Ltd, to enable productions to continue to take place whilst the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on Waterside is being renovated.  The judges commented that the Courtyard Theatre was "cutting edge and bold, yet a sensitive solution, exciting and radical, yet fits in surprisingly well in the historic environment".  

Schemes also in the final nine on the shortlist were Lavender House, Tredington; the Menzies Welcombe Hotel Spa, off the Warwick Road; Needham and James House, Stratford-upon-Avon; 16-18, Shipston Road, Stratford-upon-Avon; the Stratford Healthcare building, Arden Street and 5 and 5A Chapel Street, Stratford-upon-Avon.  

The independent panel of judges consisted of representatives from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Association of Building Engineers (ABE), the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), the Warwickshire and West Midlands Association of Local Councils (WALC), The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and district councillor Stephen Thirlwell (portfolio holder for planning).  

Along with these awards recognising good design, Stratford District Council Building Control is holding their inaugural Built in Quality Awards.  

The LABC Built in Quality Awards are fast becoming the most highly regarded and envied awards in all sectors of the construction industry. The Built in Quality Awards objectively identify and reward builders and developers who achieve the very highest standards in building construction across the full range of building sectors.  

All projects where Local Authority Building Control (LABC) has been used are eligible for inclusion and all types of work have been assessed; from domestic extensions through to large multi-million pound developments.  

District Council Building Control Surveyors nominated the projects that they feel illustrate good quality construction or innovative use of building technology.  Entrants can include developers, architects and designers, consultants or main contractors.  The awards are made by judges who are independent and not controlled by companies or commercial interests.  

A joint ceremony is being held on Friday, 28th September at 11am, at Stratford-upon-Avon Town Hall, where the district council chairman Cllr Stuart Beese will present the awards.   

There will also be a collection in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support as part of the Macmillan 'World's Biggest Coffee Morning'.    

The 'Celebration of Excellence' design award scheme was established in 1995 by Stratford-on-Avon District Council to identify, acknowledge and celebrate design excellence within the district. The 2007 award was open to high-quality buildings, extensions or conversions of any use or size, providing they were completed between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2006.