Awards 2022
CORNISH BUILDINGS GROUP AWARD WINNER 2022
Treras, St Ives
(Matt Robinson for Mr & Mrs Morrison)
The Cornish Buildings Group are delighted to be presenting this year’s main award to Treras. Environmental sustainability is rightly and importantly becoming an increasingly vital part of both new building design and refurbishment projects. It is also an important element of the Cornish Building Group’s judging criteria.
Treras started life as a mono-pitched agricultural shed and has been transformed, as described by the building’s architect Matt Robinson, into a ‘zero carbon Earthship’. Retaining as much of the original structure as possible – including all the granite stone walls – the building also requires no ‘imported’ energy to run. The house has its own bore hole for water and is heated by either an electric Aga or a Silicon Carbide woodburner. A huge south facing roof means that an array of solar panels and batteries provide the energy, the house has a composting WC and all additional materials were sourced locally and sustainably.
The judges were impressed not only with the building’s environmental credentials, but also the attention to detail – which ranged from the handcrafted window cills to the carved, curved granite quoins.
JENNY GASON AWARD FOR RESTORATION OF A SMALL HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Rosemundy, St Agnes
(Railings and gate by JW Engineering for Mr & Mrs J Boyden)
The Jenny Gason Award recognises high quality restorations of smaller historic buildings and structures as well as historic detailing and craftsmanship in Cornwall. This year’s winning entry has not only restored railings of great beauty back to an historic house but has also significantly improved the setting of the house.
The new railings and gate to the front of Rosemundy have been painstakingly created using a historic postcard showing the original design and surviving castings found on-site, from which it was possible to establish the size and weight of the ironwork.
The finished product has not only enhanced the garden front of Rosemundy but a prominent corner of St Agnes.
CORNISH BUILDINGS GROUP COMMENDATIONS
St Austell Market House
(Scott & Co, Cathedral Builders and Wheal Netherton for St Austell Market Hall CIC)
St Austell Market House has been at the centre of town life since 1844 and is often described as the ‘architectural jewel in the crown’ of St Austell. The CIC is undertaking a comprehensive restoration of the building, repairing and upgrading it, giving greater access and enabling new uses.
The first phase of the project, which this Commendation covers, is the restoration of the frontage of the building, providing new windows, removing internal partitions and false ceilings to restore the incredible vaulted ceiling and Doric columns, and providing a community café.
The judges were keen to support this big step towards the longer-term aspiration of full refurbishment and restoration of the whole Market Hall.
Discover and join in at St Austell Market House
Pentireglaze, St Minver
(Stride Treglown for the National Trust)
The idea behind this project was to find imaginative new uses for an historic farm group which changing farming methods have made redundant. The project was not just to repair the simple, authentic and unspoiled character of the Pentireglaze farm buildings, but to create facilities for the benefit of everyone – including parking, WCs, Changing Places Toilets and covered areas, all with level access, to encourage maximum use.
The judges were particularly impressed with the use of natural, local materials and the focus on inclusivity – enabling access to a spectacular part of Cornwall’s coastline in a sustainable and welcoming way.
Aqua Club, Newquay
(Lily Lewarne for The Headland Hotel)
The Aqua Club at The Headland Hotel is the third of a seven-phase programme of development and evolution for the hotel. The brief was to create a high-quality leisure-pool destination which respected its sensitive location and the setting of the adjacent Grade II-listed hotel building.
The building was designed to create moments to ‘stop and look’ to best show off the facilities and the building’s breath-taking cliff top setting.
The judges were impressed with how the building takes full advantage of the spectacular views whilst respectfully and comfortably sitting within its context. The creative use of materials results in an exciting and high-quality modern facility to complement the adjoining historic hotel.
Medical Centre, St Erme
(D3 Architects for St Erme Medical)
By the early 1990s Egloserme Farm had fallen into considerable dilapidation. Since purchased by the current owners, the main farmhouse has been fully restored and now it was the turn of the adjacent barn – converting it into a state-of-the-art medical facility.
The barn has been carefully restored, including fine re-pointing with lime mortar and the retention of original features where possible. It has a new slate roof with reclaimed ridge tiles built on traditional timber trusses. New bespoke external timber windows and doors have been made by a local joinery workshop.
The judges were particularly impressed by the creative way such a specialist use has been carefully inserted into a building of such character in a thoughtful, sensitive and high-quality manner.
CORNWALL & WEST DEVON MINING WORLD HERITAGE SITE AWARDS 2022
‘In recognition of a building’s contribution to enhancing the Outstanding Universal Value of the Cornwall & West Devon Mining World Heritage Site’
WHS AWARD FOR THE BEST CONSERVATION OF AN HISTORIC BUILDING
Tavistock Guildhall
(Gillespie Yunnie Architects for Tavistock Town Council and Tavistock Heritage Trust)
Tavistock Guildhall was bought by Tavistock Town Council in 2014 to rescue it from decline and to bring it back into public use. This award celebrates the completion of a £1.9m project to conserve, repair and convert the Guildhall to bring it back into active use.
The work carried out on behalf of Tavistock Town Council and Tavistock Heritage Trust has been light-touch and conservation-driven, and the judges were impressed by the creative way that the many ‘moments’ and uses of the building throughout its history have been authentically incorporated into the interpretation of the building, whilst widely respecting its historic fabric.
The Guildhall is an attribute of Outstanding Universal Value (international importance) within the World Heritage Site and its careful restoration represents a considerable achievement. The quality of the building work is impressive. The Guildhall has recently been designated as the third World Heritage Site Key Centre for visitor information and interpretation.
Discover Tavistock’s ‘urban jewel’
WHS SPECIAL COMMENDATION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF AN HISTORIC BUILDING
1 & 2 Chi Tarder Karrek, Camborne
(Trewin Design Architects for Coastline Housing Ltd)
This project involves the conversion of the former Holman’s No.3 Rock Drill Works Showroom Building into two level-access self-contained flats which provide supported accommodation for vulnerable local people. The completion of this conversion also marks the conclusion of the re-purposing for affordable homes at the world-renowned former Holman’s Foundry.
Working with Cornwall Council, Coastline Housing ensured that original external features and the distinctive signage lettering were retained and restored where necessary.
The showroom building along with the other historic features of the No.3 Works are attributes of Outstanding Universal Value (international importance) within the World Heritage Site and the preservation of this landmark industrial building is very much to be celebrated.
Read more about the Cornwall Mining WHS awards here.
