Shropshire’s best architecture and building conservation to be recognised at annual design awards
The quality and diversity of design and construction in Shropshire will be celebrated next week (Monday 4 February 2019) when the Shropshire Council Design and Conservation Awards 2019 are presented in an event at Shirehall in Shrewsbury.
This is the second year that the council has run the awards, which aim to promote, encourage and recognise inclusive, sustainable and high quality developments across the county, in order to secure economic growth and community cohesion.
Schemes were submitted by agents and owners during the past year and were assessed according to a range of criteria including design quality, context, craftsmanship and sustainability.
Those schemes receiving recognition on 4 February are:
- The extension to the restaurant at Number 4 Butcher Row, Shrewsbury (pictured).
- The restoration of the Grade I Bishop Percy’s House to form tearooms and holiday accommodation.
- The new science block at Concord College, Acton Burnell (pictured).
- The refurbished sports pavilion at Gatacre, Oswestry.
- The repair and restoration of a derelict wing of a listed farmhouse in north Shropshire.
- A timber-clad two storey rear extension to a semi-detached 1930s home in Shrewsbury.
- The conversion and extension of a former squatter’s cottage in south Shropshire.
- The refurbishment of former estate cottages at Stokesay Castle to provide catering facilities for visitors to the heritage site.
- The restoration of the church tower at St Mary’s Church, Shawbury.
At the ceremony a number of other good examples of particular approaches to design which benefits the historic environment will also be provided.
Robert Macey, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for planning and housing development, said:
“These awards are part of a series of initiatives to encourage and recognise sustainable and high quality design within developments which promote investment in the county’s built environment, whilst protecting and enhancing the historic and natural features which make it so distinctive and highly valued by our residents, visitors and business partners alike. I would like to acknowledge all entrants and congratulate the winners, and thank our judges for their time and support.”
A number of visits, a design forum and desk-based reviews formed part of the assessment process, with three professionals with specialisms in architecture, design and conservation giving up their time to be judges, and the council’s historic environment and development management teams providing input and support.
Projects were generally of a high standard, and felt to represent a wide range of scales and styles from modest extensions and refurbishments to large new buildings in sensitive historic locations.
Number 4 Butcher Row, Shrewsbury
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The external judges included:
Harriet Devlin MBE. Harriet lives in Shropshire and has been a passionate advocate of ‘a stitch in time saves nine’ and preventative maintenance for many years. She has long experience of fund raising for conservation projects and was awarded an MBE in 2014 for her services to the historic environment.
James Handley. James is retired from general architectural practice and lives in Shrewsbury. He has worked extensively in the Middle East resident in Iran (1975-79) and Bahrain (1982-86). He joined the Shrewsbury office of AHR in 1979, serving as UK Chairman between 1999-2008 of the renamed practice, Aedas Architects, when he was responsible for the UK/Europe/Middle East operations. He has been active within the Shrewsbury BID since its inception and currently sits on the Board, he is especially interested in design quality within the town and its future within the West Midlands community.
