South Norfolk Design Awards 2004 - The winners

There are two main winners and four commended schemes in this year’s South Norfolk Design Awards.

Announced today (Wednesday November 17) the winning scheme in the Existing Building category is an extension to Orchard Cottage in Forncett St Peter. The extension to the Grade II listed 17th century timber-framed building, was designed by architect, Kenneth Farrant.

The two-storey extension is simple in form and detail. The judging panel was impressed with “the variety of contemporary elements incorporated into the design, giving it a distinctive character.”

In the New Building category, the award winner is the Woodland Burial Park at Colney designed by Graham Brown and John Dejardin, Landscape Architect.

The judges said: “This group of buildings constructed principally of timber, are of a highly sustainable design based on a unique reciprocal frame with a spiral roof beam element, creating elegant clear span structures, which harmonise with the woodland setting.”

Council Chairman, Cllr Mrs Vera Alexander, presented the winners with their prizes, at an awards ceremony at the council offices.

A total of seventeen nominations were received, nine of which were shortlisted for inspection by the judging panel. Each scheme was then considered against an agreed set of criteria.

David Edleston, South Norfolk Council’s Conservation and Design Architect said the judges had a difficult job this year:

“The high standard of design of the nine shortlisted schemes presented a significant challenge to the assessment panel. This is reflected in the decision to give commendations to four projects, in addition to making an award in both the Existing and New Building categories.”

The following four schemes were judged worthy of a commendation:

An extension to Thurlton Primary School designed by Mark Kenney of NPS Property Consultants.

This is one of the ‘Classroom of the Future’ projects incorporating several sustainable elements in the design including a 9m high wind turbine.

The refurbishment and extension of the Dovecote at Ashby St Mary, a Grade II listed 17th century building. Tony Copeland of Copeland Associates designed the extension.

The repairs and internal re-arrangements were carried out to a very high standard and the simple extension builds on the character of the existing building.

A new classroom building at Hobart High School, Loddon also designed by Mark Kenney of NPS Property Consultants.

This is another ‘Classroom of the Future’ project, the construction of which incorporates numerous, innovative sustainable ideas.

The Jubilee Building at Easton College designed by LSI Architects.

The scheme provides new teaching rooms and laboratories on two levels and an IT learning centre. The judges said: “This has created a focal point at the heart of the campus and demonstrates a positive response to the challenge of designing a contemporary building in a rural context.”

Cllr Tim East, South Norfolk Council’s Design Champion said the awards have been a great success:

‘I originally suggested the idea of the annual design award scheme, which was established in 2001. It is a key element of the council’s strategy, aimed at promoting and raising awareness of the value of good design. I am delighted that 17 schemes were nominated this year, the largest number we have ever received, which demonstrates we are succeeding in achieving our objectives.’

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