On 5th December the Lord Mayor, Councillor
Elaine Baker, unveiled our plaques
for the
Portsmouth Society's annual Design
Competition.
The Best Restoration Award went to the spectacular restoration and
conversion of Boathouse 6, one of Portsmouth's
finest buildings, in the Heritage area of
Portsmouth Naval Base. This pioneering Victorian
iron framed building has been given a sparkling
new lease of life by master architects MacCormac,
Jamieson and Prichard, in an exhilarating
combination of magnificent nineteenth century
structure and elegant modern insertion.
Boathouse 6 has been adapted to include
the
Action Stations exhibition for the
active
navy, a 250 seat auditorium and teaching
accommodation for the university on
an upper
floor. Most dramatic was the way the
architects
have fitted the obviously modern supports
for the auditorium into the 150-year
old
cast iron structure of the building.
This year we didn't give a Best New Building award as there was no one outstanding building. Instead we gave certificates of commendation to five worthy new buildings each of which might have earned the plaque in a leaner year: two new buildings at St Luke's Secondary School, Southsea - a design and technology block and a sports hall including a delightful swimming pool - and a sparkling new classroom block at Court Lane Infant School in Drayton, all by the City Architects; a group of three terrace houses of imaginative interior design, Nos 17, 17A and 18 High Street, Old Portsmouth; and the refurbished landmark tower block and library at Highbury College.
The plaques were beautifully made this year by John Phillipson, a Southsea sculptor and potter, to the original design by Clive Nethercott.
Entries for the 2003 competition are being accepted now so - have your say! Judging will take place in September and we'd welcome your nominations. Remember that for inclusion in the 2003 competition, all schemes must have been completed by 31st December 2002.
RJ