Best in local building design and conservation honoured at Quality of Place Awards.

Buildings bringing the best in design and conservation to Suffolk Coastal were recently recognised at the Quality of Place Awards (Wednesday 22 November).

Back for the seventh year, the awards were held at East Suffolk House in Melton and also included a talk by London based architect, Jerry Tate of Tate Harmer who gave an insight into building design.

The awards are a celebration of the effort being made by people across Suffolk Coastal to add to the quality of our environment, by creating high quality designs in both the built and natural environment and helping to conserve our historic buildings.

Cllr Tony Fryatt, cabinet member with responsibility for Planning and Chairman of the judging panel, said: “Once again we received a real mix of entries and our winners reflect both modern building design and sympathetic historic conversions.

“The district is home to a fantastic range of outstandingly designed and innovative buildings and we are proud to recognise these innovative projects through the Quality of Place Awards as they pave the future for design and developments.”

The awards were presented by Suffolk Coastal Chairman, Cllr Chris Blundell with bronze plaques for the category winners and certificates for the highly commend schemes.

This year’s judges were; Cllr Tony Fryatt, Cabinet Member for Planning as Chairman Judge, Fiona Cairns, Director of the Suffolk Presentation Society as Conservation Expert Judge, Patricia Shepherd, Director of Architects Two Ltd. as Landscape Expert Judge, Peter Hill, Chairman of the Planning Committee of the Aldeburgh Society and former head of development control for the Suffolk District of Babergh as Amenity Society Judge and John Lamont, Local Architect and member of RIBA East as our Design Expert.

This 2017 winners are:

Design Winner: 12 Sandy Lane, Woodbridge by Plaice Design Co Ltd, Architects of Woodbridge with the Contractor, Bradley Building Company.

The Judges said: “This scheme epitomises what the pride of Place awards are all about. Here is an ordinary house, in an ordinary area, radically transformed into visual magic by the simple but beautiful use of shape and form, the clever exploitation of structure, views, and light, and the restrained application of colour, all in a way which is readily recognisable, and achievable, by others, in this age of increasing individuality and visual awareness. May we see many more examples of such individual enterprise.”

Building Conservation  

Conservation & Conversion Winner: The Bartlet Hospital, Felixstowe by Patrick Allen & Associates Ltd, Architects of Ipswich and Contractor, Gipping Homes (Bartlet) Ltd. 

The Judges said: “A skilful conversion of a Grade 11* listed Arts & Crafts style building on the site of a former Martello Tower. The conversion has sensitivity retained the important character and detail of the listed building whilst providing a modern use for a redundant structure that was slowly falling into dis-repair.”

Pure Conservation Winner: Church Farm House, Sudbourne by Nash Baker Architects of London and Contractor, Wayne Snowling.

The judges were “Impressed by the masterful juxtaposition of contemporary elements with a listed 17th century brick farmhouse together with the skilful delivery of a wide ranging programme of repairs to provide a stylish and commodious family home. The exemplary restoration of this listed building is testimony to the expertise, dedication and enormous sensitivity of the architect and his team to the character and fabric of this important piece of Suffolk’s heritage.”

Landscape and Nature Winner: Hands, Woodbridge Quay Church, Woodbridge commissioned by Woodbridge Quay Church by sculptor Rick Kirby of East Hertfordshire.  

The Judges thought that “The 'Hands' installation in the centre of the town, which has the theme of 'I HOLD AND AM HELD', is a striking addition to the Quay Street frontage of the church. It has become a talking point with passers-by and visitors and has become known, (like Aldeburgh’s Scallop), as Woodbridge's HANDS. The church has further plans to landscape the immediate area around the sculpture with improvements to the paving and adding seating around it. It  will surely enhance an already worthy winner of the Nature and Landscape award.”