Earlier news
Awards home
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
|||
The Portsmouth Society judges had a very wide range of buildings to choose from for its Best New Building, Best Restoration and Best Landscaping Awards. Entries included Milton Cross and Corpus Christi Schools, Sonata House new flats at Port Solent, restoration of Williamsgate, the old guard house in Old Portsmouth, a rehabilitation centre at St George's Way in Portsea, Southern Water's Odour Control building at Eastney Pumping Station and the public loos at St George's Road, Eastney.
Best New Building
To win the best new building award, the design has to give you a buzz of excitement, to fit in with the buildings around it, and the interior has to work well for its purpose. Disappointingly, this year, none of the entries had that "Wow" factor that makes for a winning entry. However, we will be giving a Commendation to the navy's Fire Fighting School, designed by Havant architect Peter Galloway, with its dramatic wave shaped roof on the prow of Whale Island.
Best Restoration
We had several excellent contenders and decided to give prizes to St John's Catholic Cathedral in Edinburgh Road and the Old Customs House pub at Gunwharf. John Wingfield, the cathedral's architect and the builders, Chichester Cathedral Works, had worked closely with Canon David Hopgood both to restore features that had been removed or painted over, and to design richly coloured new features. These features included the new high altar, font, tiled floor, glass entrance doors and the dramatic lighting scheme which illuminates the beautiful timber roof.
Gales Brewery and architect Paul Boothby had thoroughly researched the Vernon's history, sourced authentic materials, and opened up this very early office building's interior to make it a very special and distinctive pub of great character.
The long-term restoration by English Heritage of several important buildings in Fort Cumberland as the National Archaeology Centre continues to be impressive. The Judges decided to Commend the restoration by Bristol architect Niall Phillips of the Hospital as a reception centre, staff recreation and library and the ingenious conversion of the 1930s Motor Transport shed as a high tech archaeology lab, they hope to revisit the site as work progresses.
Best LandscapingWe looked at the Millennium Promenade and the beautiful Porter's Garden just inside the Victory Gate of the Dockyard. It was agreed to make an award to the Saluting Platform section of the Millennium Promenade, where the judges particularly enjoyed the S-shaped concrete seats and the garden. They will revisit the Porter's Garden next year when its hard landscaping will be finished and it has had time to mature, and consider the northern stretch of the Promenade through the Heritage Area at the same time.
Background
Judging for the Design Competition takes place each September where our panel of judges decide which is the best new building, best restored building and best landscaping scheme completed in the City during the previous year.
Winner
None
Commended
Fire Fighting School, Whale Island, Architect: Peter Galloway
Restorations
Joint Winners
Old Customs House Pub - Gunwharf, Architect: Paul Boothby, John Cooper Associates
St John's Catholic Cathedral, Architect: John Wingfield
Commended
Fort Cumberland, Architect: Niall Phillips
Landscaping
Winner
Saluting Platform
Millenium Promenade.
Engineer: Rory Bramwell, Portsmouth City Council
Commended
Porter's Garden, Dockyard
Judges
Mrs Celia Clark
Mrs Rosemary Flewitt
Mr Paul Ramshaw, Portsmouth City Urban Designer
Mr Keith Feltham, Architect